§ Mr. S. Shephardasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if his attention has been drawn to the resolution of the Bingham Rural District Council concerning the amount of slate, stone and other foreign matter mixed with the ashes of fuel burned in domestic firegrates in the district; and what steps he is taking to improve the quality of the domestic coal supplied to this district.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe need to export as much high-class coal as possible inevitably influences the quality available for the home market, but I am not aware of any special complaints recently in the area of the Bingham Rural District. With regard to the steps being taken to improve quality, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 272–277 of the Annual Report of the National Coal Board for 1947.