§ Mr. ALFRED SHORTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the South Staffordshire Mond Gas Company have notified their customers in the Tipton area that, unless supplies of coal can be increased, the supply of gas will cease; whether the firm has made repeated overtures to the Board of Trade committee controlling fuel supplies for the district and also the Coal Controller without success; whether he is aware that large numbers of workers will be thrown out of employment and trade dislocated; and whether he will take immediate steps to ensure the firm receiving an adequate allocation of coal so that distress may be obviated?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am aware of the position. Everything possible is being done by the District Coal Supplies Committee responsible for the distribution of the coal in that area, and it is hoped that such a stoppage as is indicated will be avoided; but as stated by the Leader of the House in his reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Holborn (Sir J. Remnant) on 16th February, priority in supplies is being given to household consumers and public utility undertakings.