HC Deb 24 March 1947 vol 435 cc158-9W
127. Mr. G. Wallace

asked the President of the Board of Trade how often regional fuel allocation committees meet and whether such committees have power to take immediate decisions especially on the question of revising fuel allocations to individual industrial undertakings.

Mr. Belcher

The regional fuel allocation committees meet as often as may be necessary and have power to take immediate decisions in the matters entrusted to them. In some regions, owing to the very heavy pressure of work, those committees have been meeting daily for several weeks. Under the present arrangements for the allocation of coal to industry, the general level of the basic coal allowance is determined by the Government centrally. In addition, a pool is available in each region for distribution by the fuel allocation committee, acting in accordance with broad guidance from headquarters on priorities, to supplement the basic allowance of firms engaged on specially important production.

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