HC Deb 02 July 1951 vol 489 cc187-8W
90. Mr. Ian Winterbottom

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether an additional allocation of coal can be granted where housewives have only coppers that take coal to heat the water for washing clothes and no other heating facilities in the house other than that requiring coal.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

These coppers are normally used for a few hours only every week; as a rule, they can be fired effectively with slack, refuse, wood, unscreened coal, briquettes, and other kinds of unrestricted fuel. The difficulties of increasing the supply of restricted fuels would be great, and to my regret I think it would, therefore, be inadvisable to act on my hon. Friend's suggestion.