asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what individuals, other than those actually mining coal or obtaining an extra allowance for sickness, are entitled to more than the normal domestic allocation; what is the average individual amount of coal in-involved; and on what grounds it is provided.

Local fuel overseers are empowered to give licences for additional supplies of coal to domestic consumers who depend on coal for cooking, or who have some special need which results from sickness, chronic infirmity, confinement, a large family, or some special hardship. More than half the licences granted are to provide coal for cooking; in the south the usual supplementary allowance for this purpose is 20 cwt; in the north it is 10 cwt. When extra coal is granted for the other reasons which I have mentioned, the local fuel overseer assesses the need in each case with which he deals. In the year which ended on 30th April last, 1½ million householders received extra coal. The average amount was about 12 cwt.

Am Ito understand from that reply that no concessionary coal is granted to officials of the Coal Board other than those actively employed in obtaining coal?

Certainly, Sir.