HC Deb 07 February 1972 vol 830 cc232-3W
30. Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the adequacy of national coal supplies.

Mr. Ridley

The fall in stocks during the four weeks of strike has been less than might have been expected due to economy and good weather. I am keeping the situation under review in case further measures are necessary to ensure that existing stocks are conserved and used more gradually for the duration of the strike.

84. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to safeguard fuel supplies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Davies

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today in reply to a similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane).

99. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will state the position to date in the local authority areas of Northumberland and Durham; and whether there are adequate supplies for the needs of the elderly, the sick, the disabled, the hospitals and parents with young children.

Mr. John Davies

I am advised by the National Coal Board that there are sufficient stocks of coal in the Board's depots and collieries in the North-East with which to maintain supplies for the present to priority cases, but distribution depends upon the co-operation of mineworkers at supply points.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the shortage of coal generally and for the domestic consumer in particular due to the miner's strike, he will take steps to initiate a rationing scheme with extra allocations for the sick and disabled and retirement pensioners in particular.

Sir J. Eden

When the strike began I announced that in order to minimise the risk of hardship for those domestic consumers specially dependent on coal, I had enlisted the help of the coal trade, the N.C.B., local authorities and the medical profession to ensure that in the distribution of available coal supplies, preference was given to cases of special need such as the aged, the sick and the disabled. In general, these arrangements are working satisfactorily.

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