§ 13. Mr. Nabarroasked the Paymaster-General what increase, or otherwise, has taken place during the first six months of 1959, compared with the equivalent 871 period of 1958, in industrial and commercial consumption, respectively, of coal and fuel oil; and whether the trend and rate of conversion of industrial and commercial fuel-burning plants from coal to oil is accelerating this year or decelerating.
§ Mr. MaudlingIn the first 21 weeks of 1959 the large industrial consumers required to make fuel returns used 1,610 thousand tons less coal and 330 thousand tons more fuel oil than a year ago. Conversions from coal to oil among these consumers were fewer in number and smaller in volume of fuel usage in the first three months of this year than a year ago. Similar information is not available about commercial consumers.
§ Mr. NabarroHas my right hon. Friend read the well-informed article in the Sunday Observer yesterday, entitled "Jeremiah in I.C.I.", and the most important reference therein by the chairman-elect of I.C.I., Mr. S. P. Chambers, to greater sustenance for coal burning in industry by the slowing up of the coal to oil conversion programme? May I commend that article to my right hon. Friend for his bedtime reading tonight?
§ Mr. MaudlingI did not see the Observer yesterday, but had I known it would be dignified by my hon. Friend's commendation today I would have hastened to buy a copy.
§ Mr. BlytonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that imported fuel oil is being stored at less price than crude oil and that coal just cannot compete with with the dumping of imported fuel? Is he going to allow this to continue entirely unchecked?
§ Mr. MaudlingI have often heard this allegation of dumping, but I have not yet seen evidence of it. I do not believe it is taking place.