72. Major Lloydasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why allocations to coal merchants are based on nine-tenths of a hundredweight per week per registration, in view of the fact that merchants have been instructed to lay down stocks equal to 12½ per cent. of each week's allocation, and, as they have to meet customers' demands for the hundredweight weekly to which they believe themselves entitled in Scotland and which is needed owing to more severe weather than in the South, if he will provide more coal for merchants in Scotland.
§ Mr. ShinwellNine-tenths of a hundredweight per registration per week was the amount of house coal estimated to be available for the six months May to October when the summer programme was framed, and allocations to merchants in Scotland were accordingly fixed on that basis. After laying down stocks equivalent to 12½ per cent. of the allocation the amount available for distribution would approximate closely to 20 hundredweight 87W per registration it the allocation were received in full. This is the maximum permitted quantity which may be acquired by householders in Scotland without licence during the period, although when additional supplies to premises having special needs have been met, the average would be rather less. Receipts, unfortunately, fell below allocation in the first few weeks of the programme but steps have been taken which it is hoped will improve the position. Provision has been made for an increased allocation in next winter's programme, but I regret that supplies do not permit of any increase during the summer.