§ Captain Sidneyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in districts where deliveries of coal and coke by dealers have been more than one month in arrear, householders have not been receiving their proper allowance of coal, since it is the practice of dealers with the sanction of his Ministry to cancel orders which have not been fulfilled within one month; and whether he will now issue instructions that an order once made shall remain on the dealer's books until delivery is effected.
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that the delivery of supplies is subject to whatever restriction may be in force in a given period and must be related to the consumer's need. With this reservation, however, I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that unnecessary inconvenience may be caused by the cancellation of consumers' orders at the end of a restriction period, and I am therefore considering what arrangements can be made to ensure their continuance. My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that the maximum permitted quantities are not allowances to which all consumers are entitled.