HC Deb 12 May 1952 vol 500 cc834-5
6. Mr. Julius Silverman

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what proportion of the coal supplied to domestic consumers in Birmingham is opencast; and what is the proportion in the country as a whole.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

Fifteen per cent. and 5 per cent. respectively.

Mr. Silverman

Does not the Minister think that this is an entirely unfair allocation? In addition, are not wagons now available—I understand they were not available before—for a wider distribution of opencast coal to every part of the country? Will the Minister consider giving an increased allocation of this coal in areas where there is local opencast-working?

Mr. Lloyd

This proportion between opencast and deep-mined coal in Birmingham was made by my predecessor last summer in anticipation of the difficulties in facing the winter, and for the reason —which, I am bound to say, was a good one—that he was anxious to save the railway coal wagons. Therefore, it was decided to supply the cities near the opencast workings by road lorry, as much as possible.

Mr. Silverman

Is it not a fact that the wagon situation has improved and is now quite different from what it was last summer? Are not wagons now available to distribute this opencast coal?

Mr. Lloyd

It is always easy to think in the spring that the situation is much better than it will be in the autumn.