§ 5. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Paymaster-General what percentage of surface-mined coal is classified as large coal.
§ Mr. RentonTwenty-four, Sir.
§ 7. Mr. Nealasked the Paymaster-General how he proposes to reduce the abnormal stocks of small coal.
§ Mr. RentonThe present level of stocks is largely the result of warm weather and a low rate of increase in industrial activity, which I hope will be temporary. The National Coal Board has launched a new drive to reduce the proportion of small coal in output.
§ Mr. NealDoes the Parliamentary Secretary believe that that reply is a satisfactory solution to the muddle which now prevails in the marketing departments? Does he agree that at present the stocks are 10 million tons in excess of our domestic requirements for the next winter? Is it not possible to dispose of some of this coal overseas?
§ Mr. RentonNo, Sir. I certainly do not agree that our stocks are 10 million tons in excess of our requirements for the winter. Indeed, if we have very cold weather, as we had, for example, in 1947, we shall find those stocks very useful indeed.