HC Deb 24 March 1952 vol 498 cc4-5
12. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the figures for coal stocks at the latest convenient date, compared with 12 months earlier.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

I will circulate a table of detailed figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but perhaps the House would like to hear now that the totals are 13,177,000 tons at 8th March as compared with 9,738,000 tons a year ago.

Mr. Nabarro

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind, in connection with his summer prices scheme for householders stocking up with coal for next winter, that many merchants' yards at this moment are full to capacity, and that they can accommodate no more, and will he therefore start his scheme at the earliest possible moment?

Following is the table:

COAL—DISTRIBUTED STOCKS
(Thousand tons)
— 8th March, 1952 10th March, 1951
All industry 4,220 3,162
Gas works 2,274 1,843
Electricity works 4,030 2,610
Coke ovens 941 810
Merchants' house coal 710 509
Other consumers 1,002 804
Total 13,177 9,738
COAL—UNDISTRIBUTED STOCKS
(Thousand tons)
— 8th March, 1952 10th March, 1951
At collieries 1,153 1,428
At opencast sites or central stocking grounds:—
(i) Saleable 199 145
(ii) Second quality 130 118
Total 1,482 1,691