§ 16. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power by how much the quantity of coal used for all purposes in the United Kingdom in the first 44 weeks of 1952 was less than the amount used in the corresponding period of 1951.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydTwo per cent.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIn other words, 4 million or 3½ million tons?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerRemembering that the reduction is about 3½ million tons, and that the average increase in recent years has been about 6 million tons, may I ask whether that is the main cause of what the right hon. Gentleman called last week "the better situation" in regard to coal? 10 Would he agree that the improvement is mainly due to reduced industrial activity?
§ Mr. LloydIt is due partly to increased production from the mines, partly to the warmer weather of last winter, partly to a reduced rate of industrial activity, which began during the time of the last Government, and lastly, of course, to the fact that this year, as compared with last year, we have not had to import 1,300,000 tons of American coal.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWould the right hon. Gentleman agree that whereas internal consumption last year increased by 7 million tons and industrial production increased very heavily, the increase this year is very much less, and that industry has used over 2 million tons less than last year?
§ Mr. LloydThe right hon. Gentleman has not given proper credit to the economy of coal produced by the operation of fuel efficiency in industry, and even in the nationalised industries.
§ Mr. Anthony GreenwoodCan the right hon. Gentleman say how much coal has been saved by "the reduced rate of industrial activity," as the right hon. Gentleman calls it?
§ Mr. GreenwoodWhy not?
§ Mr. LloydIt is difficult to disentangle the effects of the reduced rate of industrial activity from those of the weather and the other factors which I have mentioned.