HC Deb 27 November 1961 vol 650 cc15-7
7. Mr. D. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the recent agreements which allow coalminers smokeless fuel in place of raw coal, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to ensure adequate supplies in the regions concerned from the operative date of 1st January, 1962.

Mr. George

No, Sir. This is a matter for the National Coal Board.

Mr. Griffiths

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that already in the existing smokeless zones there are difficulties in procuring smokeless fuels? As local authorities are now creating more smokeless zones, is it not apparent to the Minister himself that something ought to be done at once to ensure supplies of smokeless fuels in those areas?

Mr. George

Supplies of smokeless fuels are generally adequate throughout the country, and no such difficulty is being encountered on a wide scale, though there are local shortages. In complying with the agreement to which the Question refers, the National Coal Board intends that where coal is replaced it should be wherever possible by coke from its own ovens.

14. Mr. Owen

asked the Minister of Power what steps he is taking to ensure adequate supplies of smokeless fuel in areas in which the Clean Air Act is in operation.

Mr. George

Supplies are adequate both generally and in the North-East, where the Northern Gas Board's revised plans for supplying Gloco should permit a considerable expansion of smoke control. A National Advisory Committee, including producers and distributors, of which I am chairman, keeps the prospects under review.

Mr. Owen

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that when a local authority elects to proceed with the operation of the Clean Air Act, considerable frustration is engenderd by the lack of adequate supplies of smokeless fuel? Is it not possible for his Ministry to co-operate more closely with the local authorities and the National Coal Board?

Mr. George

There is continuous co-operation between the local authorities and the Ministry through the regional advisory committees on smokeless fuels. They are always consulted before any proposal for a smoke control area is approved. In this way we ensure that the establishment of areas does not go ahead faster than fuel supplies become available, and so far no proposal has been rejected.

Mr. R. W. Elliott

When my hon. Friend suggests that supplies in the North-East are adequate, may I ask whether he recalls the recommendation of the Peach Committee that closed stoves should be installed in that area to burn locally produced hard coke, and whether he realises that there is strong aversion to the installation of these closed stoves in the area? Is my hon. Friend further aware that the Smokeless Fuels Federation mobile exhibition quite reasonably suggested that there should be greater use of smokeless fuel, but Warmco as produced by the National Coal Board was hardly available in the North-East?

Mr. George

As to the use of closed stoves buring hard coke, the Ministry of Housing has recently made these types of fires available for grants with a view to encouraging their use. The National Coal Board had high hopes of Warmco at one time, but these have been disappointed through technical difficulties.