§ Mr. W. Brownasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that country cottages and farmhouses, which have not gas or electricity and are wholly dependent on coal and coke, need a greater fuel allowance than houses in towns where electricity and gas heating is available; and whether he will reconsider the present allowance made to country cottages which is no greater than that for town houses?
§ Mr. T. SmithIt is inevitable that some inequality will arise under restrictions imposed on a broad basis without detailed reference to individual circumstances but the quantities specified in recent months2124W have been above the quantities considered necessary for actual summer consumption in any district. Consumers in the country have much better facilities than town dwellers for getting wood fuel to eke out their coal but the local fuel overseers have power to grant additional quantities of coal where justified in order to avert hardship. Coke is also available as a substitute for coal.