asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he has taken to advise the public that they may change their coal merchants.

My preliminary statement in the House on 27th January, 1949, was given considerable publicity in the Press and by the British Broadcasting Corporation. A further announcement giving full details of the arrangements was issued on 28th February and circulated to newspapers and news agencies. Broadcast announcements were made on 3rd and 10th March and advertisements inserted in most national newspapers and in more than 300 provincial newspapers between 7th and 26th March.