§ Mr. Enoch Powellasked the Minister of Fuel and Power to state, in respect to the Midland Region, the maximum permitted quantity of house coal per consumer; the quantity per consumer allo-
Period Quantity per registration allocated to merchants Quantity per registration despatched by the National Coal Board to merchants (1) (2) (3) Summer 1948 … … … … 20.9 cwt., of which approximately 1.4 cwt. was earmarked for stocking by merchants. 20.7 cwt. Winter 1948–49 … … … 25.2 cwt. 26.4 cwt., in addition to which 1.4 cwt. was distributed from merchants' stocks. Summer 1949 … … … … 20.5 cwt., of which approximately 1.5 cwt. was earmarked for stocking by merchants. 20.5 cwt. Winter 1949–50, 26 weeks … … 24.4 cwt. — 19 weeks to 11th March … … 18.0 cwt. 18.0 cwt. in addition to which 1.5 cwt. was distributed from merchants' stocks. NOTE.—The quantities shown in Column 3 as despatched by the National Coal Board are, owing to losses in transit and for other reasons, somewhat higher than the quantities recorded by merchants as received and available for distribution to consumers.