HC Deb 26 July 1950 vol 478 cc89-90W
164. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the purpose of the circular sent out to coal merchants by the Director-General, House Coal Distribution (Emergency) Scheme, dated 16th June, 1950.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

The House Coal Distribution (Emergency) Scheme is an organisation set up by the retail coal distributive trade, one of the main functions of which is to assist the Ministry in securing the equitable distribution of the available supplies of house coal. The Director-General's circular letter has three main objects:

  1. (a) to give the trade information in regard to the current summer programme;
  2. (b) to impress the continuing need for fair sharing of available supplies of house coal to consumers; and
  3. (c) to emphasise the necessity for building up adequate stocks at coal depots during the summer, in order to safeguard the position of consumers during the winter—especially those who have no facilities for stocking themselves.

This letter is issued to all registered coal merchants and may not, therefore, reflect the exact conditions of supply in certain areas in all respects.