§ 79. Mr. J. Patonasked the Paymaster-General if he will state the duties of local fuel overseers and define their responsibilities to local coal consumers.
§ Sir I. HorobinTheir main duties are first to licence coal merchants and register consumers with specified merchants and, secondly, to issue licences for extra supplies where these are justified. In cases of extreme urgency, the local fuel overseers may direct any merchant to supply coal to any premises if the registered merchant cannot supply. They are also required to circulate to all the licensed merchants in their districts schedules showing the maximum prices at which the various grades of coal may be sold retail, and they deal with complaints on any matters arising from their statutory duties. They are not empowered to investigate complaints about the quality of coal supplies but are able to give guidance to consumers making representations on this subject.