§ 90. Mr. Asshetonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the allocation of coal to the paper mills is quite inadequate to enable them to maintain even the present level of supplies of essential commercial documents to the business community; and whether he will give consideration to an increase in the fuel allocation to these mills.
§ Mr. BelcherCoal allocations to paper mills, as to other sections of industry, have recently been substantially increased. All paper mills receive the basic allowance to industry which now stands at 50 per cent. of requirements; and many of them are receiving, in addition, supplements from the regional pools. The level of paper production generally is, therefore, considerably above that appropriate to the present basic coal allocation. It is hoped to be able to make a statement about allocations to industry generally as from 1st June onwards in the course of the next few days.