§ 92. Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why his Department prevented coal merchants for several weeks from disposing of coal during October; and to what extent this holding up of the return of railway wagons to collieries contributed to the further shortage of fuel at the end of the year.
§ Mr. ShinwellThere was no prohibition during October on merchants' disposals of house coal. A certain amount of
392W
§ Mr. ShinwellThe figures are as follow:
wagon standage occurred in the South Western Region during this period in areas where merchants' stocking grounds were full but this was kept to a minimum by the diversion of supplies to other stations less favourably placed and in the last week of October by allowing merchants in a few special cases to begin deliveries for the November/December restriction period. The period of stand-age was not abnormal for this time of the year and exercised no appreciable effect on the general fuel position.