§ 36. Mr. Asshetonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the National Coal Board have made large purchases of conveyer belting and heavy canvas from the United States with the result that British capacity for these items is now threatened with restricted production; what steps he has taken to ascertain from the National Coal Board the reason for their inaccurate assessment of the situation regarding facilities and stocks in this country; and what action he proposes to take to compensate firms who, at the instigation of the Board, laid in stocks of heavy canvas and belting which are now surplus to requirements.
§ Mr. GaitskellIn reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor) on 3rd June, 1948, and to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply to the hon. Member for Royton (Mr. Sutcliffe) on 6th December last. As regard the second part of the Question, the National Coal Board82W is not responsible for assessing production facilities and stocks of belting and canvas. As regard the last part of the Question, any stocks of canvas or belting held by manufacturers have arisen in the ordinary course of their business and no question of compensation arises.