§ 8. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that three squatter families, living in the R.A.F. huts, Waltham, near Grimsby, have been refused a supply of coal, whereas other squatter families are in receipt of a coal allocation; and in view of the correspondence sent to him, will he see that these families are all treated alike.
§ Mr. GaitskellI am advised that the three huts were registered for coal supplies on 9th September and that deliveries of fuel were made within 48 hours of registration.
§ 9. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that coal supplies to the Grimsby area for the 18 weeks' period to 4th September, are 7,900 tons short of the quota; and what steps he is taking to make up this deficiency before the winter.
§ Mr. GaitskellYes. I am aware that the Grimsby district has received a lower proportion of its allocation than the North Midland Region as a whole and I have arranged for additional coal to be sent there during October to make good the deficiency.
§ Lady Tweedsmuirasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will permit coal allocations of which delivery could not be taken owing to shortage of space, to be added to those for the next rationing period.
§ Mr. GaitskellLarge coal suitable for domestic consumption is very much wanted by our foreign customers and is also required by the railways, by gasworks and by some industrial consumers. I regret therefore that I cannot authorise any general carry-over of undelivered balances of the permitted maximum summer quantities into the winter period. In cases of serious hardship, however, local fuel overseers have power to authorise an extra supply.