HC Deb 21 March 1951 vol 485 cc2423-7
Mr. Murray

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has any statement to make in regard to the prospects for coal supplies to industry during the remaining winter months.

The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Philip Noel-Baker)

The House may recall that in a debate on 1st February, I said that, in view of the greatly increased consumption of coal and the necessity to build up power station stocks, I had informed the Federation of British Industries, the Trades Union Congress and Chairmen of the Regional Boards for Industry in the Emergency Committee of the National Production Advisory Council for Industry that it might not be possible during the winter months, to deliver to industrial firms more than 85 per cent., on the average, of the coal which I had planned that they should have. I expressed the hope, which I had previously expressed to the Emergency Committee, that industry would help the nation and themselves by exercising every reasonable economy in their use of coal. To that invitation, industry in general made a very handsome response, for which I should like to thank all concerned.

Fortunately, in addition to the economies in consumption which were made, the output of coal from the mines also substantially improved. Thanks to these better supplies, it has proved possible to deliver to industry, not 85 per cent., but, on the average, 95 per cent. of their programmed requirements. I think it is now possible to say that we shall maintain a high rate of delivery during the remaining weeks before the winter period ends; that is to the end of April.

Mr. Churchill

The end of April?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Yes, the end of April. The coal year is divided into a winter period and a summer period, each of six months. I have also every hope that industrial stocks will, at the end of April, be as high as we had originally planned, namely, three weeks consumption.

I think it is desirable that the directors and managers of industrial firms should know how considerably the situation has improved. But I add that it remains of the highest importance, not only for this year, but for the future, that industry should make the most efficient possible use of the coal which they receive, and that modern methods and equipment to this end should be generally and speedily introduced.

Mr. Murray

I am sure that the House is delighted to hear such a splendid statement. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] These things are even delightful to hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite some- times. While I am sure we are all delighted to hear the news which the Minister has imparted to the House, and while I am sure that the country also will be delighted to read the Minister's statement, I wonder if my right hon. Friend can tell the House whether, in view of his statement about the high stocks in the country, there is any prospect that we will be able to resume normal exports in the near future?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I should not like today to make any promise about that.

Mr. Braine

In view of what the right hon. Gentleman has just told us, can he further inform the House whether he is now in a position to restore the cuts recently made in the coal allocation to the railways; and, secondly, can he now state whether every medical priority certificate for coal can be immediately honoured?

Mr. Noel-Baker

As a result of Questions by hon. Members in the House, I made a special inquiry in all regions about the honouring of hardship certificates, and I have been assured by every region that there has not been one single case of a failure to honour them.

Mr. Braine

On a point of order. Am I not entitled to a reply from the Minister to the first part of my question?

Mr. Noel-Baker

The railways are re-instituting their former services as from the 19th of this month.

Sir H. Williams

The 19th March has passed. Does the right hon. Gentleman mean April?

Mr. Ronald Williams

Can my right hon. Friend give the House any information as to the success, if any, which has attended the efforts for improving the efficiency in the use of fuel and power?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Yes, Sir. I think progress is continually being made, but there is still a great deal to be done. I am now appointing a very strong committee of experts to help me in an advisory capacity on this subject. I have not all the members yet, but Captain Gregson is to be the chairman, and Mr. Boon, Mr. Oliver Lyle and Dr. Sarjant of Sheffield are to be members, and I think the House may take it that the committee will be very strong.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

May we be allowed to ask the right hon. Gentleman to convey to the miners the gratitude of the country for the special efforts they have made in this time of crisis, but, in view of the fact that it would not be fair to expect them to continue indefinitely with the extra tension of their efforts, and bearing in mind that at the end of this coal winter we shall start with extremely low stocks as compared with the past, will the Minister press on in every way with the more permanent solution of what still remains a very serious problem?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman, and I shall certainly transmit the message which he was good enough to suggest. Secondly, I have every hope that, in fact, our distributed coal stocks at the end of April will be higher than they were last year, and, perhaps, higher than for several years. In the third place, I quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman that, of course, the miners could not be expected to go on working every Saturday throughout the year as they have done up to Easter.

Sir H. Williams

Why not?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Try going down a coal mine and see. I have asked the Coal Board and the National Union of Miners to meet me next week to consider output for the rest of the year.

Mr. Teeling

With Easter coming on now, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether this hopeful prospect for the future is going to make it possible for those in the holiday and seaside resorts to get some extra lighting over this coming weekend, which is really very important to our constituents?

Mr. Noel-Baker

The hon. Gentleman and one or two of his colleagues from seaside resorts were good enough to raise this matter with me last night. I have it under consideration, but I should not like to give him an answer just now. Indeed, I cannot do so now.

Mr. Teeling

This is an urgent matter as there are only a few days to go.

Mr. Hamilton

When the message from the Opposition has been conveyed to the miners, will the Minister undertake to bring back to the House their reply?

Sir H. Williams

The Minister gave the wrong date. He must mean next month.

Mr. Teeling

On a point of order. In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman will not be able to give me an answer to the question I put to him between now and Easter, would he announce it on the B.B.C.?

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

That is not a point of order.