§ Mr. Burkeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, having regard to the present high price of coal, he will take such steps as will ensure that consumers get more coal and less stone per cwt.
Major Lloyd GeorgeThere has been some deterioration in recent years in the preparation of coal, but generally such deterioration has not exceeded that which could be reasonably expected to arise from the difficulties of war-time working. There are, however, cases where the deterioration in quality exceeds that which is reasonably justified, and my Regional and Group Production Directors have been instructed to take steps to improve the preparation of the coal.