HC Deb 21 May 1946 vol 423 cc52-3W
104. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of priority certificates for domestic coal issued by the local fuel overseer in Hull during the coal year ended 3oth April, 1946, for consumers registered with the Co-operative Society, Risdale and Walkers and other merchants, respectively.

Mr. Shinwell

The numbers of certificates issued during the 12 months ended 3oth April, 1946, by the local fuel over. seer for the city of Hull authorising priority emergency deliveries were: for consumers registered with the Hull Cooperative Society, 577; for consumers registered with Messrs. Risdale and Walker, nil; and for consumers registered with other merchants, 201.

105. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total number of consumers of domestic coal registered in Hull on 1st May, 1946; and the numbers registered with the Cooperative Society, Risdale and Walkers and other merchants, respectively.

Mr. Shinwell

The total number of controlled premises under the Coal Distribution Order on the register of the local fuel overseer for the city of Hull on 1st May, 1946, was 90,703. The number registered for supply by the Hull Co-operative Society was 18,166, for supply by Messrs. Risdale and Walker, Limited, 1,630, and for supply by other merchants,. 70,907.

106. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements were made in Hull during the coal year ended 3oth April, 1946, whereby consumers entirely dependent on solid fuels for cooking, having no gas, electricity or oil, should have had priority of supply; why these arrangements failed; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that, during the present coal year, such consumers get priority of supplies instead of a shortage of several hundredweights below the percentage of coal actually supplied to the city.

Mr. Shinwell

Consumers in Hull, as in the rest of the country, could obtain licences for additional supplies on application to the local fuel overseer if they were entirely dependent on coal; merchants were responsible for apportioning their supplies according to the needs of their customers. I am not aware that there was in Hull any general failure to do this and I do not accept the implications made in the last part of my hon. Friend's Question.