§ Mr. WASONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can approximately state the quantity of coal mined during the years 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe output of coal from mines in the United Kingdom during the years named was:
Tons. 1914 265,643,030 1915 253,179,446 1916 256,348,351 1917 248,473,119 1918 (Provisional estimate) 227,987,000
§ Major PRESCOTTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that even though consumers are entitled to certain allowances in accordance with the scale in the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1918, that in the communities of Greater London they are not able to obtain these allowances owing to the shortage of supplies, and that small consumers in Tottenham requiring only 1 cwt. weekly have not been able to get this minimum allowance regularly; whether he is aware that the stocks of fuel in the merchants' depots in North London this winter have been far below those on the ground in the winter of 1916–17; and will he state the intention of his Department with regard to this condition of affairs?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe supply of coal to London during the last four weeks has been increased, and approximates closely to the tonnages of the winter 1917–18. The stringency in deliveries was relaxed on 1st March, and every consumer should be able out of the tonnages available to meet current requirements. It is admitted that the reserve stocks of coal in London are low, and every endeavour is being made out of the increased tonnages now being brought in to raise them to a normal level.