§ Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the short time working at some of the collieries in the Lancashire coalfield due to the shortage of wagons; and whether he will consider giving instructions to all collieries to stock the coal, where practicable, on the surface, as was done in pre-war years in these circumstances.
§ Mr. T. SmithI am aware from the colliery returns that some collieries in Lancashire are sustaining losses of working time owing to shortage of wagons, and the general question of wagon supplies to collieries is one which is engaging the Government's closest attention. As regards the second part of the Question, it is still the practice for collieries to stack coal on the surface and colliery undertakings are being instructed to do this to the maximum practicable extent.