§ Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is his policy with regard to deliveries of fuel to manufacturers and with regard to the stocks of 1100W fuel which they are now permitted to hold?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIn accordance with the policy outlined in paragraph 23 of the White Paper on coal, discussions have been opened with my colleagues principally concerned on arrangements for the block allocation of coal to industries; the distribution among the individual units in an industry will be made, under the control of my Department, in agreement with other Departments concerned. The programmes of supply thus formulated will make provision for the levels of stock appropriate to the various classes of industry. Pending the completion of these programmes, in order to effect an immediate saving in the consumption of coal by industry—as required by the White Paper—I have restricted deliveries to all but a few classes of industry. I would take this opportunity of emphasising that, while individual anomalies may result from this temporary measure, and will be corrected as they arise, industrial consumers must, unless and until output improves, accept the necessity of a reduction in supplies.