§ Colonel Burtonasked the Secretary for Mines what emergency stocks of coal have been accumulated in Suffolk and Essex and why this was not done prior to the rise in the price of household coal?
§ Mr. GrenfellAs I have stated previously the general response to my appeals made to all classes of coal consumers has been satisfactory and the stocks now held by consumers, including public utility undertakings, are above normal in almost all districts. All of these, together with Government stocks, constitute the stocks built up against emergencies and were accumulated prior to the recent increase in the price of coal. Apart from those in the London area the Government stocks in Essex and Suffolk are relatively small, but it has not been the policy of the Mines Department to accumulate Government stocks while consumers' and merchants' requirements for stocking remained unsatisfied.