§ 12. Mr. Palmerasked the Paymaster-General if, in order to utilise to the maximum the abundant supplies of small coal 7 now available, he will issue general directions in the national interest to the Central Electricity Generating Board to abandon entirely the use of oil in power stations, to the Gas Council to concentrate all possible resources on developing processes for the hydrogenisation of small coal, and to the National Coal Board to discuss terms for the sale of coal to power stations such as will enable the electricity boards to offer in bulk off-peak supplies of energy for space heating at low and competitive prices.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir. I am satisfied that the industries concerned are already doing everything practicable to develop the uses of small coal.
§ Mr. PalmerIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that these are all sensible and practical suggestions which would go a long way to reduce the surplus stocks of small coal? If the Minister is not prepared to take positive action on lines of this kind, what really is the point of having a Minister of Power?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe last question goes a little wide, but to go through the three points of the Question: as for the use of coal in power stations, as I said in a recent debate—and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Blyth (Mr. Robens) agreed with me—we must not ask the electricity industry to go to the extent of breaking contracts, but short of that it is reducing the use of oil as much as possible; the Gas Council is doing a great deal of work on the hydrogenation of small coal; the National Coal Board's terms of sale of coal to the power stations seems essentially a commercial matter in which the Coal Board should take the initiative.