§ 24. Commander Nobleasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether extra supplies of household coal will be sold this summer at a price lower than in winter.
§ 32. Captain John Crowderasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if there is to be a reduction in the price of coal during the summer months.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerAs I said in answer to a Question last week, I have arranged that between now and the end of October the National Coal Board shall supply to the merchants about 800,000 tons more house coal than they received during the summer months last year. The merchants have undertaken that, if the coal is made available to them, they will build up their stocks by the end of October to 2½ million tons.
The National Coal Board, the Coal Merchants' Federation and the Co-operative Union have put forward proposals for lower summer prices, based on the scheme which worked so well last year. I am confident that these proposals will again encourage domestic users to stock more coal during the summer months, and thus to lighten the burden of distribution during the winter, when the weather is hard. I hope that the details of this year's scheme will shortly be announced.
§ Commander NobleCould the Minister say what arrangements are being made for those people who have very small storage space and, therefore, are not able to take advantage of this extra coal?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerMerchants will be willing to repeat the pledge made last year that they will ensure that people without stocking space get priority in winter. I think they have fulfilled that pledge.
§ Captain CrowderCan the Minister say whether his statement includes anthracite and domestic boiler fuel, because my Question does not mention domestic coal?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIt does not include anthracite. I think there will be a little more anthracite, but not much.
§ Commander NobleWill this extra coal they are able to buy in winter be at summer prices, because that is the point?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerNo, Sir. Unfortunately, we cannot work it that way.
§ Mr. HarrisonIf there are increased stocks to be held by the merchants, will it be permissible for people without stocking capacity to have extra supplies next winter?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThey will get the normal supply and if they need more they will be licensed to have it, if it is a case of hardship.
§ Mr. W. Robson-BrownThe Minister said he hoped that at the end of October stocks would be 2½ million tons. Can he say what the stock of domestic coal was in October last year?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIt was 2,020,000 tons. This year, I hope it will be about 500,000 tons more.
§ 26. Mr. Hugh Fraserasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of shortfalls of coal delivered to householders during the coal year just ended, and of shortfalls announced to come, he will adjust maximum permitted quantities in the various regions to a more realistic figure to mitigate sudden hardships and allow more accurate anticipation by merchants and consumers.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerWith respect, I do not think that a reduction in the maximum quantities of coal which householders may buy would have the advantages which the hon. Member suggests. On the contrary, I think it might cause some hardship and much additional administrative work.
§ Mr. FraserIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in parts of the country, certainly in the Midlands, there is a current shortfall of 12 per cent. in maximum permitted quantities, and that the proposed increase of 800,000 tons to the home market will only mean a 3 per cent. increase? Is he further aware that maximum permitted quantities are regarded as a ration by the majority of the public, with automatic results of hardship and miscalculation?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe figure given by the hon. Member is the overall average. Many consumers take much less than the permitted quantity. Some take none at all. Therefore, merchants are able to give the full permitted quantity to many people who need it. If that were not the case, that is, if the permitted quantities were reduced, it would be necessary to issue hundreds of thousands more licences, which, I think, would cause a lot of trouble to no useful purpose.
§ 28. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the domestic coal 1573 allocation applicable heretofore will be increased strictly pro-rata 30,000,00: 30,800,00 during the coal year 1951–52; and by how much, expressed in hundredweights, the domestic coal allocation for the north of the country and the south, respectively, will be increased in the coal year 1951–52.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerThe extra coal to be supplied this summer by the National Coal Board to the house coal market will be allocated to the various regions by the house coal distribution scheme, in consultation with the officers of my Department. The allocations will be fixed in the light of the requirements of the various regions for summer consumption, and of their capacity and need for building up their stocks during the summer months.
I cannot yet say how much coal can be given to the house coal market during the winter; I regret, therefore, that I am unable to make the calculations for which the hon. Gentleman has asked.
§ Mr. NabarroOn a point of order. May I say, first of all, Sir, that there are two typographical errors in the Question? A nought has been left off both the figures, and the Question should read "30,000,000: 30,800,000 during the coal year 1951–52."
May I now ask my supplementary? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what will be the effect of the increased allocation which is made upon last year's standard house coal allocation of 34 cwt. per annum in the south of the country, and 50 cwt. in the north? He must have an idea of approximately what the increase will be.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerAs I have said, I propose not to change the maximum permitted quantity.
§ Brigadier Prior-PalmerWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in the case of horticulture the extra allocation of coal made in the summer cannot be taken up because horticulturists cannot afford to take it up? Will he bear that point in mind when making allocations to horticulturists, particularly in the southwest?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI will bear the point in mind.
§ Mr. PagetCan we be told what difference it makes to the ratio if half a dozen noughts are added to the end of the figures in the Question?
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that he was proposing to look at this situation again later in the year. Would he bear in mind the possibility of increasing the amount that can be given to householders, because that is the fundamental cause of all the difficulties over the priority certificates and of most of the hardship?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI shall add as much as it is possible to give during the winter, but I cannot now say what that will be.
§ 29. Mr. Rentonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he has taken to secure adequate supplies of coke for domestic users for next winter.
§ 33. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he proposes to arrange an increased supply of coke for domestic consumption, commensurate with the recently announced increase in allocation of household coal, during 1951–52; and what special facilities will be provided to householders for summer purchase of coke.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI hope that there will be rather more coke for the domestic market than there was a year ago. As the hon. Members know, the sale of coke is not now subject to restriction; this has led to certain difficulties, and I am now considering what measures can be taken to improve the distribution of the available supplies.
§ Mr. RentonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that for many months past domestic consumers who are dependent upon coke for both cooking and heating have been suffering great inconvenience, particularly in the Eastern regions? Does his answer mean that he can hold out no hope of this awkward situation being improved by next winter?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerMerchants have endeavoured to give priority to people who were entirely dependent on coke for cooking and heating. But in the absence of statutory restrictions, it does happen that some people build up large stocks and that others consequently get less than they need.
§ Mr. NabarroIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the acute hardship caused last winter when there were long queues of women and children at gas works trying to secure half cwts. of coke?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThere was a lot more coke available last winter than there was the year before, but unfortunately the demand had increased even more.
§ Mr. NabarroThey were not given any coal.
§ Captain DuncanWould the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of Question No. 33, dealing with summer stocking?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI think that will have to be as it was last year. No new special arrangements will be made.
§ Mr. RentonWith reference to the right hon. Gentleman's statement that people have been building up large stocks of coke, is he aware that it is quite impossible even if anyone had wished to do so because the coke has not been available?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am speaking of last summer, when some people took very large amounts.
§ 31. Captain Crowderasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether adequate supplies of coke are now available to meet all demands during the summer months; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerAs I have said in answer to Questions Nos. 29 and 33, I hope that there will be rather more coke for the domestic user this summer than there was a year ago. I am arranging that industrial consumers shall receive the coke they need for current use during the summer months. In addition, I propose that, so far as the supply of the various qualities permits, supplies shall also be provided to enable them to build up their stocks by the end of October to an average of six to eight weeks' winter consumption.
I propose, further, to arrange that the Armed Forces, local authorities and essential non-industrial consumers, such as hospitals, schools and bakeries, shall be provided with enough coke to build up their stocks by the end of the summer to an average of 12 weeks' consumption.
§ Captain CrowderWill the quality be a little better than what we are getting now, because it is very difficult to burn it properly in domestic boilers?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThat is another question.
36. Mr. Geoffrey Wilsonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can give an assurance that there are sufficient supplies of Group II fuel available to the public to maintain in service existing appliances designed for its use.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI regret that I have no statistics which would justify me in giving the hon. Member the assurances for which he asks.
Mr. WilsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Coal Utilisation Joint Council have been encouraging people to buy appliances which use this type of fuel, particularly anthracite? Is he satisfied that the supply will meet the increasing demand, especially in view of exports of anthracite?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI do not know how many appliances there are in use and I do not know what is their average requirement. I cannot, therefore, give the assurance which the hon. Member seeks.