§ 40. Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has now been made, in the Government programme to reduce the shortage of smokeless fuel during the coming winter and, in particular, with regard to keeping open certain gas coke-making plants, the suspension of smoke control orders, the stimulation of opencast mining and better arrangements for distributing supplies of smokeless fuel.
§ 39. Mr. Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a further statement about the availability of supplies of coke and alternatives for domestic and industrial users this coming winter.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Nicholas Ridley)In a reply on 22nd July, I summarised the steps taken by the Government to alleviate the likely supply difficulties to non-industrial consumers this winter. The requirements of industrial consumers do not appear to call for an additional special measures. I am keeping the situation under review and I am in close touch with producers and distributors, but at present there is nothing I can add to my hon. Friend's earlier statement.
§ Mr. RedmondI thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Will he agree that he inherited a perfectly appalling situation as a result of the lack of forward planning over smoke control orders and smokeless zones? Does he not agree that in Conservation Year it is a frightful thing to be suspending smoke control orders, and will he ensure that they are put back into operation as soon as possible?
§ Mr. RidleyMy hon. Friend is right in saying that the situation which we inherited contains some worry for the coming winter, and I agree that it would be desirable to have all the smoke control orders in operation again as soon as possible. However, we must put the heating and comfort of the population 664 first. I join my hon. Friend in hoping that it will not be long before the shortage of smokless fuel is eased.
§ Mr. BarnettI deplore the need to suspend the smoke control orders, but is the hon. Gentleman aware that the situation is particularly serious in the North-West? Nothing other than smokeless fuel can be burned in many homes. Will the hon. Gentleman issue a special direction from his Department to ensure that supplies are distributed to those areas where people cannot burn anything other than smokeless fuel?
§ Mr. RidleyI have no power to make a direction of that sort, but my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry has visited the North-West and has done all that he can to alleviate what I agree is a not very pleasant situation.