§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what has been the result of his investigations into the large number of complaints from Oldham about the quality of coal being supplied.
§ Mr. RobensI am not aware that there has been any abnormal number of complaints about the quality of coal being supplied in Oldham. I have written to my hon. Friend about the complaints which he brought to my notice.
§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the source of supplies of coal being sent to Oldham, and in particular to the Oldham Industrial and the Oldham Equitable Co-operative Societies; and whether he is satisfied that there are adequate screening facilities at the source of supply.
§ Mr. RobensI am informed by the National Coal Board that house coal supplies to Oldham are drawn from 24 different collieries or colliery groups and the two Co-operative Societies receive supplies from 12 of these. In addition, opencast coal is supplied both to the Societies and to other coal distributors in the district. All coal supplied against merchants' allocations for the house coal market is screened, and I am advised by the Board that the screening facilities at the colliery sources of supply for Oldham are reasonably satisfactory.