§ 36. Mr. Marquandasked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that the present arrangements whereby coal miners 240W who live in areas designated as smokeless zones have to surrender their concessionary coal at pit head price while having to pay the retail price for smokeless fuel means that such miners suffer a financial loss; and whether he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board to discontinue this practice.
§ Dr. BrayNo. Arrangements about concessionary coal and its replacement by smokeless fuels are agreed between the National Coal Board and the Unions. I have asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend to explain these.