§ Colonel Lancasterasked the Minister of Power what steps are being taken to maintain and improve coal supplies during this winter; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WoodAfter two months of very cold weather, stocks and supplies of coal for our industries, including power stations and gas works, are still being well maintained and the prospects are satisfactory. There are continuing difficulties over house coal in many parts of the country. In recent weeks, much more house coal has gone from pits to merchants and from merchants to consumers than is normal at this time of year. Merchants' stocks in many places have consequently been122W exhausted. The substantial pithead stocks of large coal with which the Coal Board started the winter are nearly depleted, and supplies now depend largely on current output. The Board is adopting special measures to maintatin the highest possible level of deliveries to merchants. With the agreement of the National Union of Mineworkers, it has arranged for Saturday working from 23rd February at selected pits producing a high proportion of large coal. The necessary Order in Council has been made under the Coalmines Act, 1908. Other measures include the extention of opencast working, the diversion of large coal from industry to the domestic market, and the supplementing of supplies of large coal with suitable smaller coal. The Coal Board and the distributive trade are working closely together on this problem. The distribution of coke is also difficult, particularly in Southern England, and additional supplies are being brought in from other areas. The merchants are doing all they can fairly to distribute the available coal and coke with regard particularly to the needs of old people and others with special claims.