§ Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what have been the effects, so far, of the National coal economy campaign; and whether he will arrange that it should be continued after this winter.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydThere has been a remarkable resurgence of effort throughout industry to seek ways and means of economising further in the use of coal. Since the launching of the Campaign on 1st November the National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service has received some thousands of new applications from businesses of all kinds for technical advice and assistance, and the Regional Boards for Industry are now making personal approaches to the managements of nearly 20,000 firms. Each month more firms are turning from coal to oil and inland fuel oil consumption has already risen by 21 per cent. this year. All this confirms the evidence I received during my recent visits to the industrial areas that industry is making determined efforts to save at least 2,000,000 tons of coal this winter.
But further substantial economies can be achieved in addition to the immediate target and, as every ton of coal saved will reduce the need for coal imports, I have no doubt that the campaign for industrial coal economy must be sustained beyond the present winter as part of our national fuel policy for the future.