Mr. H. Stewartasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that despite the recently lowered allocation of coal to householders in Scotland, merchants in Fife are receiving less supplies than to allow delivery of one cwt. of coal per week per household, namely, some 50 per cent. less than the maximum amount mentioned in the recent Ministry announcement; and whether, since the bulk of houses in the landward areas of Scotland have neither gas nor electricity, he will consider issuing special licences in such cases for extra supplies of coal and take steps to ensure that in all cases adequate supplies of coal are made available to merchants.
§ Mr. T. SmithThe maximum permitted quantity in every region is intentionally fixed above the average programmed supply in the summer, when some consumers cease to take coal, so that those who have storage space may build up stocks to meet their winter needs. The restrictions in winter are designed to keep off the market those who have laid in stocks so that supplies can be diverted to those unable to stock in summer. I am aware that supplies in Scotland have fallen short of the programme, but it is impracticable to supplement them from other sources, The issue of licences will, therefore, not meet the situation until the supply position improves; in the meantime merchants have been asked to share out their supplies as fairly as possible.