§ Major PRESCOTTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, in spite of prices being relatively high, the fuel now being sold as coal in Tottenham is of notoriously bad quality, containing a large percentage of slate; and, as the supply has been and is still insufficient to meet the reasonable demands of the consumers, who have apparently no redress with regard to the inferior quality of fuel, and in view of the doubtful benefit derived from the system of control, will he consider the desirability of abandoning the present scheme of rationing at an early date?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe present system of rationing is essential to receiving a proper distribution of coal while the present shortage in supplies continues. I will have inquiries made as to the quality of coal supplied in Tottenham.
§ Major PRESCOTTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the result of the Gas Coke Price Order, 1918, and its effect upon coal consumption whether it is the fact that the price of fuel wood has been found in practice to be too prohibitive to warrant its being used as a coal substitute; whether he is aware that any class of coal is sold from the trolley at 2s. 4d. per cwt.; and, as the Board of Trade are not able to guarantee either quality or to ensure adequate supplies, what useful purpose the present system of coal control is serving at the present time?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe Gas Coke Order referred to relates to industrial coke, and does not affect household coal at all. It has not been found possible to market fuel wood in the London area at a price which would induce purchasers to use it in place of coal. The maximum price of certain qualities of coal is 2s. 4d. per cwt. as stated by the hon. Member, but other qualities should be purchasable at 2s. 3d. If the system of coal control were withdrawn it would seem likely that some districts would be without any supplies.