§ Mr. SWANasked the Minister of Mines if he is aware of the scarcity of coal in Weardale, County Durham, and of the hardship, loss and inconvenience to people having to yoke and go to the station and wait hours and then come away empty; and why this scarcity exists when mines are being closed and others working short time in the county of Durham?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have received no complaint of scarcity of coal at Weardale, County Durham, but I have no doubt it will be found that the complaint relates to supply of the better qualities of coal. The serious falling-off in the demand for coal of inferior quality has the inevitable result of reducing the supplies of superior qualities of coal, since one cannot be disposed of without the other. If people could take coal as it is raised without sorting or screening there would be no difficulty in obtaining as much coal as is desired.
§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the coal shortage now being felt at Bletchley; that wagons which are sent from there by the Bletchley District Cooperative Society, Limited, to the collieries are so delayed en route by the congestion of wagons that they fail to complete their journey in any satisfactory time; yet, when the collieries are asked to send coal in their wagons, none are said to be available; and that neighbouring co-operative societies are in a similar predicament; and will he inquire into this and have the position remedied as soon as possible?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo complaints have been received in the Mines Department of shortages at Bletchley. If the hon. and gallant Member will supply me with the names of the collieries concerned, I will see if anything can be done to remedy the position, but I am bound to point out that the present falling off in demand for the poorer qualities of coal, due to economic conditions at home and abroad, has made very difficult the distribution of coal in the country, since it results in the colliery sidings, etc., being blocked with coal in wagons for990W which no outlet can be found. This interferes seriously with traders' wagons going into the collieries to load the better qualities of coal and also reduces the number of colliery wagons available to meet orders.