§ 98. Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the public concern regarding the present arrangements for the distribution of coal, through factors and merchants, what modifications in the usual practice are contemplated.
§ Mr. RobensUnder the wartime procedure for programming coal supplies, merchants were obliged to obtain their coal through the then existing channels of supply which might be either through factors or direct from the collieries. These arrangements were continued by the National Coal Board after the industry was nationalised.
As my right hon. Friend has already announced, domestic consumers will be given freedom to change their merchants from 1st May next. Simultaneously with this, the Board, in agreement with my right hon. Friend, are arranging for merchants to have freedom to obtain their 327W supplies either through a wholesale distributor chosen by them or direct from the National Coal Board (subject, of course, to agreement on terms).