asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that there are large dumps of slack in existence at pitheads in certain parts of the country; and whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements exist at the present time for the utilisation of all available supplies of coal slack, either for industrial purposes, or by forming it into bricks for domestic consumption?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. All slack available from current production is already going into consumption. Certain of the existing dumps, to which the hon. Member refers, are being drawn upon, and a survey is being made of the remainder to determine the extent to which they contain usable fuel.