§ Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the present position as regards the supply of coal to the cotton-spinning industry; whether any mills have had to stop work owing to lack of supplies; and what arrangements are being made for the future.
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe programme of supplies for the cotton spinning industry, as for other sections of the cotton industry, is arranged in consultation with the Cotton Control, the underlying principles being those applicable generally to industry. Only one case of a mill having closed temporarily has been reported to me, and I am informed that this consumer was not willing to accept alternative qualities of coal which were offered to him. I cannot emphasise too strongly that at the present time industrial consumers who do not do everything in their power both to economise in the consumption of coal and to make use of the qualities of coal or coke most readily available will inevitably experience serious difficulty in maintaining production. With regard to the last part of the Question, supplies will continue to be arranged in consultation with the Cotton Control.