§ Mr. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that a firm of coal merchants in Hertford had halt their weekly allocation of Nottingham house coal, amounting to some 30 tons, suspended in favour of the same tonnage of a grade of opencast coal fit only for rough industrial use; and whether such action is in conformity with present practice and approved by him.
§ Mr. RobensThe opencast coal offered in this case was only part of one week's allocation and I am advised that it is of a quality generally considered suitable for domestic use. I also understand that the364W merchant concerned was under the impression that the substitution for deep-mined coal was a permanent arrangement. He has now accepted the substitution as a temporary measure. As regards the second part of the Question, temporary substitution of opencast coal for domestic use is sometimes unavoidable.