Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that during the hop-drying season hop-growers in East Kent were sent supplies of coal which were quite unsuitable for hop-drying owing to their high arsenical content; that when the matter was reported to the National Coal Board, they received a reply that the coal must be used; that action was only taken after the matter had been referred to the Hop Growing Board and that replacements of the proper type of fuel, which should have been dispatched from South Wales on 5th September were not dispatched until 16th September; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that, in future, hop-growers receive adequate supplies of the right type of fuel at the right time.
§ Mr. GaitskellFrom the inquiries I have made, I understand that there was only one instance where the supply of anthracite was found to be unsuitable for hop-drying and that no statement was made by the National Coal Board that the coal must be used. Action was taken at once by the regional coal officer to help in obtaining replacements as soon as he received intimation from the merchants, on 5th September, that the coal was unsuitable and he had obtained" confirmation of this fact from the Hops Marketing Board on the same day. The replacement order was, however, received by the colliery from the consumer's agents only on- nth September, and despatches of the coal began from 18th September. It was understood that in the meantime arrangements had been made locally to ensure that alternative suitable coal was available so that hop-drying operations were not delayed. Supplies of coal for hop-drying are programmed by the National Coal Board in consultation with the Hops Marketing Board, and the National Coal Board assure me that 197W every precaution is taken by them to ensure that the coal supplied is of the quality required.