109. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the Bollington Printing Company, near Macclesfield, is being seriously hampered through shortage of fuel, as a result of which deliveries in connection with the textile finishing trade are very behindhand; and if he will take immediate steps to supply this firm with their full allocation of fuel.
§ Mr. RobensI am informed that this firm have admitted that there has been no stoppage of work or slowing down of production due to shortage of coal. Graded coal forms the bulk of this firm's allocation, the balance being in small coal. Graded coal is scarce, especially in the West Midland Division of the National Coal Board from which the firm draws its supplies.
The position of every industrial consumer is reviewed once a month to see whether his allocation is still appropriate and to find out whether he has in fact been receiving his due. In this review, the stock position is of course taken into account. Unfortunately, the Bollington 113W Printing Company had over-estimated its stock and this error was not discovered until the middle of March. Moreover, its stock position was weakened by its refusal in February to accept an offer of small nuts to supplement its supplies of the graded coals programmed in its allocation.
I am advised that every effort is now being made by the National Coal Board to meet the firm's full requirements, though it will be necessary to supply a larger proportion of small coal.