§ 8. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Power what were the sales of open-grate and other solid smokeless fuels in the domestic market in the year ended March, 1964, in the previous year, and in 1958.
| SALES OF SOLID SMOKELESS FUELS IN THE DOMESTIC MARKET | |||
| Thousand Tons | |||
| Types or Brands | 52 weeks ended 27th December,1958 | 52 weeks ended 30th March,1963 | 52 weeks ended 28th March,1964 |
| Specially reactive fuels (Coalite, Rexco, Cleanglow, Phimax, Warmco, Homefire) | 741 | 1,469 | 1,568 |
| Gas coke, including Gloco and Sebrite (a) | 2,531 | 2,747 | 2,511 |
| Coke oven coke, Sunbrite (b) | 407 | 697 | 872 |
| Anthracite and dry steam coals | 1,479 | 1,553 | 1,642 |
| Phurnacite | 481 | 716 | 718 |
| All other | 71 | 105 | 130 |
| Total | 5,710 | 7,287 | 7,441 |
| (a) Comprising cokes suitable for improved open fires (Gloco and Sebrite) and those normally burnt in domestic boilers, but excluding premium cokes made at gasworks (Cleanglow and Phimax) which are included under "Specially reactive fuels." | |||
| (b) The premium coke made at coke ovens (Warmco) is included under "Specially reactive fuels". |
§ 9. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Power how the domestic sales of open-grate and other solid smokeless fuels compared with supplies in the year ended March, 1964; and what are the prospects for them in the current year.
§ Mr. PeytonIn the year ended March, 1964, supplies were generally adequate though there were a few temporary or local shortages of particular kinds of fuel. This year supplies are again expected to be adequate; in particular, production of specially reactive open-grate fuels should increase.
§ Mr. OsbornIn thanking my hon. Friend for that Answer, may I ask him
§ Mr. PeytonSales in the year ended March, 1964, were 7.4 million compared with 7.3 million tons in the previous year and 5.7 million tons in 1958. With permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing how these figures are divided between the different kinds of fuel.
§ Mr. HallIs my hon. Friend satisfied with this rate of increase in the sale of smokeless fuels? Will he say how far these sales have been affected by a shortage of supply?
§ Mr. PeytonI cannot say. What I can tell my hon. Friend is that last year there was an addition to stocks of Gloco and even of the more popular specially reactive fuels. I do not think that there is any ground for anticipating a large increase in demand.
§ Following are the figures:
§ to comment on the stock position and to say whether he can indicate by what percentage stocks will be better in the coming winter than they were last winter?
§ Mr. PeytonStocks of gas coke at present stand at 1.9 million tons, but demnad for it is still falling. I will not add to what I have said in answer to previous supplementary questions.
§ 11. Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister of Power what steps he takes before orders for smokeless zones are confirmed to ensure that smokeless fuels of high quality are available.
§ Mr. PeytonIt is for the local authorities to discuss their requirements with 1407 the producers and suppliers and to base their smoke control orders on the fuels that can be made available.
§ Mr. DempseyIs the Minister aware that the local branch of the coal merchants' association in my constituency confirms that certain types of smokeless fuel are very inferior? Does he realise that an old-age pensioner told me that she had to light her fire 15 times in one day, at considerable expense, to try to keep the fire going? In view of these circumstances, should not the Department be satisfied that an efficient quality of smokeless fuel is available before the Minister confirms smokeless zones?
§ Mr. PeytonIt is true that at one time last winter a bad batch of Gloco was produced by the Scottish Gas Board, but this matter has been put right. I can only say that I sympathise with the unhappy experience to which the hon. Member has referred.
§ 12. Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister of Power if he will now seek power to control the retail price of smokeless fuels; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeytonNo.
§ Mr. DempseyIt will be appreciated that I anticipated the hon. Gentleman's reply. Is he aware that something should be done about this? Does he realise that pensioners are paying more than 15s. for a bag of smokeless fuel and that this is a particularly high cost in relation to a pensioner's income and quite costly to the general public? Should he not take some action to ensure that the price of smokeless fuel is controlled within the limits of the public purse?
§ Mr. PeytonPerhaps I might first congratulate the hon. Member on the shrewdness with which he anticipated my reply. Secondly, I am afraid that I must tell him that I do not believe that price control would be effective.
§ Mr. John HallIs it not a fact that the thermal efficiency of good smokeless fuel is greater than that of ordinary fuel and that the cost in return for heat given is probably lower than for the ordinary type of fuel?
§ Mr. PeytonI am obliged to my hon. Friend. That is correct.
§ 14. Mr. E. Taylorasked the Minister of Power in view of the current shortage of smokeless fuel, when sufficient quantities of the right type of smokeless fuel at reasonable prices will be available in the North-West.
§ Mr. PeytonThere is no present shortage of solid smokeless fuels. I have no reason for thinking that present prices are unreasonable in relation to costs of supply.
§ Mr. TaylorI do not know what will be thought about that reply in the Northwest. Is my hon. Friend aware that many towns in the North-West have suspended their smoke control orders because of this problem? Is he also aware that the greatest danger lies in the possibility of the breakdown of the control orders which have already been granted? I do not accept his Answer.
§ Mr. PeytonThis puts me in a very great difficulty, because I do not know what alternative answer I can offer to my hon. Friend. Of course I am aware of the problem, but prices, as I have told my hon. Friend, and as I have previously said, must reflect the cost of production. I very much hope that local authorities which are hesitant or doubtful about going ahead with clean air schemes because of the difficulties will accept that immense benefits would flow from a successful clear air policy and not be deterred.
§ Mr. TaylorOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the uncertainty of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, I give notice that I should like to raise the matter on another occasion.