§ Q1. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Prime Minister what is the division of responsibility between the Minister of Power and the Minister of Housing and Local Government in regard to the organisation of local distribution of solid fuels.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)The sole Ministerial responsibility lies with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power, who has a general statutory duty to promote efficiency in the distribution of fuel. He does not, however, regulate distribution in individual localities.
§ Mr. BellIs the Prime Minister aware that the Minister of Housing has published a statement in which he appears to support the withholding by the Coal Board of supplies from merchants who sell coal in smokeless zones and that the Scottish Division of the Coal Board appears to be doing that already? Will the right hon. Gentleman see that no member of the Administration uses the monopoly supply position of the Coal Board so as to force people to stop doing what is still perfectly lawful?
§ The Prime MinisterThere have been one or two difficulties about smokeless fuels, even in smokeless zones, where the local authorities have a responsibility first for ensuring available supplies, but I will certainly go into the question with my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Robert CookeWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is here a planning difficulty, and that the Ministry of Housing might well act in liaison with the Ministry of Power in order to get land released for housing 26 and other purposes, for there is an enormous multiplicity of coal dumps in our great cities? Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this problem?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member will be aware, I think, of the report on coal distribution costs last year, recommending the rationalisation of coal distribution into big coal depots, which would certainly release land for housing and other essential purposes.