§ 10. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Paymaster-General if he will state the quantity and categories of undistributed coal stocks in Scotland with comparable figures for a year ago.
§ Mr. MaudlingTotal undistributed stocks compared with a year ago were 442,000 tons as against 308,000 tons. I will, with permission, circulate details of the categories of coal in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir W. Anstruther-GrayIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that adeqaute steps are being taken to consume these stocks and not to allow them to mount?
§ Mr. MaudlingConsumption of coal is not, I am afraid, a matter entirely within the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government, but I am sure that the National Coal Board is doing all it can.
| Following are the figures (in tons): | ||
| — | 4th April, 1959 | 5th April,1958 |
| Small and unscreened coal | 247,000 | 187,000 |
| Graded coal | 48,000 | 8,000 |
| Large coal | 17,000 | 1,000 |
| Anthracite | 29,000 | 18,000 |
| In wagons | 101,000 | 94,000 |
| 442,000 | 308,000 |
§ 11. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Paymaster-General what general direction he will give the National Coal Board to speed up the distribution of coal during the summer months.
§ 25. Mr. Liptonasked the Paymaster-General, in view of the need in the national interest of preventing the accumulation of excessive coal stocks, if he will give a general directive to the National Coal Board to accelerate the distribution of coal stocks before the winter.
§ Mr. MaudlingA general direction to the National Coal Board in this matter would not be appropriate. Speed of distribution in the summer months depends on the demand from merchants and consumers, and differentiation between summer and winter prices is designed to give them the necessary incentive to stock coal during the summer.
§ Mr. LiptonAre we to assume from that reply that there is going to be a reduction in prices over the summer months? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider advising the Coal Board to do what any businessman or shopkeeper would do in similar circumstances when he finds himself overstocked, namely, to sell off at bargain prices?
§ Mr. MaudlingOn the second point, I am sure that the nationalised industry needs no such obvious advice. On the first point, I would say, "Wait and see."