§ 52. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the substantial price increase recently announced for domestic coal, what steps he is taking to improve and increase allocations; and what progress has been made towards ending house coal allocation arrangements before the end of 1954.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksThe National Coal Board has in hand a big programme for improving the preparation of coal. My right hon. Friend stated the maximum allocations for the year in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on 12th April, and regrets that it will not be possible to abolish restrictions on the purchase of domestic coal this year.
§ Mr. NabarroSince nationalisation, in 1947, conversations have been going on continuously about the improvement in the quality of house coal. Can my hon. Friend say when some tangible result will be forthcoming and a greater supply of good quality house coal be available for the domestic market?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksI should not like to prophesy anything; but over the five years from 1953 to 1957 the programme of the Coal Board is to complete a further 70 plants with an additional capacity of 40 million tons.