§ Mr. E. Walkdenasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has received up-to-date reports of the difficulties of flat dwellers in the borough of Wandsworth 566W to obtain supplies of coal and of the labour difficulties connected therewith; and what action he has taken to ensure that London flat dwellers in particular can obtain immediate and regular coal supplies.
Major Lloyd GeorgeI have made inquiries and I am not aware of any general difficulties in the district mentioned. With regard to the second part of the Question, a general arrangement for the country as a whole has been made with the distributive trade for ensuring priority of deliveries during the winter, within the permitted quantities, to small consumers without stocks. Provision is also made in the Coal Distribution Order, 1943, for licensing landlords of blocks of flats to hold coal for consumption by their tenants. An emergency scheme has also been prepared, in co-operation with the London Region Civil Defence Organisation, for Civil Defence Personnel to assist, if necessary, in ensuring that priority consumers shall receive their necessary supplies.