§ 22. Mr. Nealasked the Paymaster-General what are the total stocks of coke and smokeless fuel; and what general directions he has given to the Gas Council and the National Coal Board respecting the output of these fuels.
§ Mr. MaudlingProducers' stocks of coke and smokeless fuel at 22nd March amounted to about 4½ million tons. My noble Friend has given no general directions to the Gas Council and the National 603 Coal Board respecting the output of these fuels. The industries concerned relate their production to current and future demand, and action to reduce production of coke is currently in hand.
§ Mr. NealHow long does the Paymaster-General think that it will take to reduce these stocks to normal proportions? A fantastic situation prevailed a few weeks ago, when coke was being manufactured from foreign coal.
§ Mr. MaudlingI should like notice of the point about the manufacture of coke from foreign coal. If it was going on, I am sure it was on a very small scale indeed. The question of how to reduce coke stocks generally is one to which the National Coal Board is giving much attention, and its action in slowing down production should enable it to deal with this problem. It is, however, better to be embarrassed by too much coal and coke than by too little.