HC Deb 06 May 1957 vol 569 cc39-40W
30. Mr. Cooper

asked the Paymaster-General if he is yet in a position to terminate the allocation of coal scheme, and also to permit consumers to buy without being tied to one supplier.

Mr. Maudling:

No. These two objectives cannot be achieved without additional supplies of suitable coal and we cannot afford to increase our imports of large coal. But my noble Friend has aked the Coal Board and the trade to re- examine the possibilities of filling the gap in supplies by other means, including the use of the smaller sizes of coal.