§ Mr. Bodyasked the Paymaster-General whether he is aware that, after a firm of coal merchants had been convicted at Brentwood Magistrates' Court of carrying short-weight sacks of coal, the local fuel office refused permission to customers to re-register with another coal merchant; and to what extent this is a general practice in the event of such a conviction.
§ Sir I. HorobinI am informed that following this conviction the local fuel overseer at Brentwood has not received any application for transfer but only an inquiry. If a firm application for transfer were made it would be allowed. Changes of registration at this time of year are within the discretion of the local fuel overseer and no general difficulties of the kind referred to have been brought to my notice.