19. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take steps to amend the Merchandise Marks Acts to enable proceedings to be taken by his Department in connection with the provision of sub-standard coal.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydAs I advised my hon. Friend in reply to her Question on 31st May last, the Merchandise Marks Acts apply to coal in the same way as they apply to any other goods. But their practical application to coal presents great difficulties which I do not think could be removed by an amendment of the Acts.
Miss WardIs my right hon. Friend aware that last May was a very long time ago, that we are getting tired and that there is no improvement in the quality of coal? What steps does my right hon. Friend intend to take, with the expenditure of all this money, to provide better coal for the consumer, because this is a monstrous situation?
§ Mr. LloydI sympathise with the point of view of my hon. Friend, but I would point out that the Coal Board is spending very large sums of money on apparatus for the processing and cleaning of coal. That should assist in this matter.