§ 5. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if his attention has been called to paragraph 184 of the First Report of the Gas Council; and what steps he is taking to improve the quality of the coal delivered to the Gas Council.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerYes, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) on 19th March.
§ Sir W. SmithersDoes the Minister realise that one nationalised industry inevitably causes losses to another and that the taxpayer or the consumer pays? That is one of the main reasons for the rise in the cost of living.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIf the hon. Member will look at HANSARD for 19th March, he will see that the two main causes of the present difficulty are, first, that many of the best gas coal seams have been worked out, and, second, that the gas boards require seven million tons more coal than they did before the war.
§ Sir W. SmithersDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember Kipling saying:
A servant, when he reigneth, throws the blame on someone else."?
§ 6. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power on how many occasions he has referred matters to the Gas Council as mentioned in paragraph 15 640 of the First Report of the Council; and what were the subjects so referred.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI am in frequent touch with the Gas Council, not only on the matters on which the Act requires that consultation should take place, but also on other subjects on which consultation may serve a useful end.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Minister give an assurance that he, as a theorist, will consult business men as often as possible?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerYes, Sir. I am in constant touch with the Gas Council, on which are very good business men.