§ 26 and 27. Mr. Priorasked the Minister of Power (1) why there is a shortage of boiler fuels in the country; and what efforts he is taking to put it right;
(2) whether he is aware of the continuing abnormally unsatisfactory position of smokeless fuels in Norfolk and Suffolk; on what date he asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to get in touch with the hon. Member for Lowestoft on the subject; if he is aware that the Board have not yet written to the hon. Member; and what action he is taking in this regard.
§ Mr. Frederick LeeDemand for boiler fuels has been at a very high level. Production in South Wales has been affected by labour difficulties, by the freezing weather in January which slowed down operations at colliery washeries, and by floods which impeded rail movement.
The action which has been taken by the National Coal Board to improve the situation and provide fair shares to distributors was explained in the letter which the Chairman sent to the hon. Member on 11th February.