HC Deb 03 April 1950 vol 473 cc111-2W
103. Mr. Black

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider introducing legislation which will give power to local authorities who already have powers to prosecute in the case of short deliveries of coal, also to prosecute in cases of deliveries of coal of unsatisfactory quality.

Mr. Robens

No. There are wide variations and the technical and practical difficulties of defining quality, of sampling and testing coal sold in small quantities, and of enforcement would be too great.

Mr. N. Davies

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered samples of fuel received from Mr. G. Selby, 73 Priory Avenue, Chingford, E.4, and sold to him as coal in Ching-ford; whether he is aware that fuel of equally low quality has been sold to old age pensioners of limited means; and what steps he is taking to ensure that, in future, only fuel of high quality is sold as best coal.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Yes. On the general problem of dirty coal, I would refer to the statement which I made on 20th March in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Heeley (Major P. Roberts).

With regard to the particular case referred to by the hon. Member, the letter received from his constituent implies that the merchant concerned failed to carry out the complaints' procedure which was agreed between the National Coal Board, the Chamber of Coal Traders and the Co-operative Union in August, 1948, and which was circulated to the members of these two trade associations. I am asking the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council to review the working of this procedure.

Local fuel overseers have special instructions which are designed to minimise the risk of consumers being charged prices higher than those prescribed in the Retail Coal Prices Schedules in the grade of coal delivered. Any consumer who believes that he or she is being charged more than the prescribed price should report the matter to the local fuel overseer.

Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the poor quality of coal delivered to Mrs. Bland of Little Pettings, near Wrotham, Kent, through her merchants, Messrs. A. & H. Hardy, of Dover Road, Northfleet, particulars of which have been sent him; and what actions he proposes to take to improve it.

Mr. Robens

The consumer should complain to the merchant who in turn should use the machinery, described in paragraphs 286–288 of the National Coal Board's Report for 1948, which has been agreed between the National Coal Board and the distributive trade for settlement of complaints. As regards the general problem of dirty coal I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in the Debate on 29th March in which he outlined the action that is being taken to deal with this problem.