§ 78. Mr. H. Fraserasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the Easter cut in domestic coal deliveries to North Staffordshire merchants has now been made good; and whether he has any general statement to make on future levels of domestic coal deliveries.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI am informed that the coal merchants in North Staffordshire received 100.3 per cent. of their allocation for the six winter months which ended on 30th April. The corresponding figure in the town of Stafford was 87 per cent. As I am saying in answer to other Questions this afternoon, more coal will be allocated for domestic use during the present year. The merchants in Staffordshire will get their fair share of the increased supplies.
§ 80. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he expects to make a statement about the additional coal for British housewives next winter; and whether this increase will be possible because of increased production or a reduction in our coal exports.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI am glad to tell the hon. Member and the House that the 177W increasing output of coal will justify some increase in the supplies available for household use in the present year. The amount available up to 1st April, 1951, will be at least one million tons more than in the coal year 1949–50, and I hope it may be more. There will be no change in the export target given in the Economic Survey for 1950, which, as the hon. Member knows, is from 19 to 22 million tons.