HC Deb 29 January 1948 vol 446 cc181-2W
106. Major Bruce

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what instructions he has given to the National Coal Board concerning a more thorough grading of coal at pit-head and to prevent properly graded coal from being re-graded by factors and retailers for their own profit at the expense of the consumer.

Mr. Gaitskell

I have given no directions to the National Coal Board on the subject of the preparation of coal at the pit-head, because they are fully aware of the importance of the matter, and are pressing ahead as fast as circumstances permit along lines which have been publicly announced by them. If any distributor, whether as a result of regrading or falsely describing the quality of the coal, sells it at a higher price than that fixed under the Retail Coal Prices Order for the grade to which the coal properly belongs, he is liable to prosecution.