§ 24. Sir P. Macdonaldasked the Minister of Fuel and Power by what date he anticipates it will be possible to abolish the present system of domestic coal rationing; and to what extent this decision depends on the increasing of the total production of coal in this country.
§ Mr. GaitskellI cannot at present forecast when it may be practicable to discontinue restrictions on coal supplies to domestic premises. Since there is a potential domestic demand considerably higher than the supply at present available and since all increase in exports is also of vital importance if our standard of living is to be maintained, a substantial increase in production, particularly of large coal, is obviously a prerequisite to the relaxation of control over domestic supplies.