§ 32. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of imports of 12 million tons of foreign coal this year, he will give emergency advice to industry, householders and merchants in regard to increased efficiency in coal burning, substitution of oil fuel for coal, and summer stocking of coal, in an effort to alleviate hardship and loss next winter.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI welcome this opportunity of emphasising the urgent need of increased fuel efficiency, both in industry and elsewhere, and the advantage to the nation of increasing the use of oil in place of coal, but I hope to make a fuller statement on these matters at an early date.
§ Mr. NabarroWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind that every week that goes by sees an increasing number of coal-consuming plants installed by British industry generally? Is it not urgently necessary that they be given guidance to switch to oil in the same way as the major coal consumer in the country, the Central Electricity Authority, is already switching in a large way?
§ Mr. LloydThis is being gone into in a technical way by the National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service all the time, but fundamentally it must be a matter for each consumer to decide in the light of his own particular requirements.