§ 2. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now satisfied that coal merchants, in delivering 5 coal of 2 cwts. and more, are observing the instructions of Article 11 of the Retail Coal Prices Order and specifying the grade and price of coal delivered to each consumer.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power (Mr. Joynson-Hicks)My right hon. Friend is satisfied that merchants are aware of the requirements of the Order and generally comply with them. Appropriate action is taken when contraventions are discovered or are brought to the notice of officers empowered to investigate them.
§ Mrs. MannCould the hon. Gentleman say, once the coal is delivered, what steps are taken to ensure that the coal in the cellar is of the same group as is stated on the price ticket?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksIf there is reason to suspect that it is not, my right hon. Friend's enforcement officers have powers to investigate the matter.
§ 3. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that many old-age pensioners are receiving low grade coal delivered to them at prices which indicate higher grades; and if he can extend to 1 cwt. deliveries the requirements of group pricing, particularly on delivery lorries.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksAll retail deliveries are already subject to price control. My right hon. Friend is not contemplating any amendment of the Retail Coal Prices Order, nor is he aware of particular cases affecting old-age pensioners in which the Order has been contravened, but if the hon. Member will let me know of any such case, I will have it investigated.
§ Mrs. MannWhy should I have to act as a private detective for the National Coal Board and the Minister? When a lorry is delivering 1 cwt. bags of coal, is it not possible to know whether it is delivering the correct group at the correct price? As there is a difference of as much as 3s. 10½d. per cwt. between Group 7 and Group 1, surely this is vitally necessary?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksAll deliveries are subject to retail price control, and therefore if a delivery is made upon a wrong basis, either as to its group or its price, 6 the law is being broken. The problem is to obtain evidence of any breach of the law, and if the hon. Lady has any suspicion of any such case, we shall be very glad to investigate it.
§ Mrs. MannBut who is to provide the evidence? Does the hon. Gentleman expect me to go up and down the country looking for it? Are the fuel officials to sit on their hunkers in their offices while somebody else is rooting out cases in which the law is broken?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksAfter her speech in the last debate on this subject, I was hoping that the hon. Lady would provide us with some grounds upon which investigations could be made, but unfortunately she was not able to disclose the name of the merchant concerned. I should add that upwards of 40 prosecutions have already taken place this year.
§ Mr. NabarroIs not the ending of house coal rationing the effective answer to all these complaints and difficulties. In view of the very marginal and relatively small additional supplies of coal which would now be involved, is the present cumbersome system, costing £1¼ million a year, really necessary?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksMy hon. Friend is quite right as to the first part of his supplementary question. The real solution can be achieved only when the de-rationing of coal is possible.