Mr. Amoryasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that many people in country districts are finding it impossible to obtain supplies of anthracite fuel; and whether he will arrange for priority of allocation to those who have no alternative means of cooking and heating.
§ Mr. GaitskellAs I have previously explained, there is a general shortage of anthracite on the home market because of the need to increase exports, particularly to Canada. Coke, however, is plentiful in most districts and is a suitable alternative for nearly all cooking and heating stoves and boilers. Priority for supplies of anthracite is given where the appliances cannot operate on any other fuel, but heat-storage cookers do not come within this category.