asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the acute shortage of coal for domestic consumers, he will take all possible emergency action to facilitate the supply of coal in Manchester.

I do not accept that the house coal position in Manchester is such as to warrant diversion of supplies from other communities. Manchester is receiving its fair share of the coal available for the domestic market and, indeed, in the four weeks ended 3rd February received only 658 tons less than in the corresponding period last year.

Would the Minister further investigate this matter, as there are many households in Manchester without any coal at all?

The local fuel overseer keeps us fully informed of the position in the area.

If there is a drop this year how can the hon. Gentleman reconcile that with the statement by his right hon. Friend that he had provided 1.6 million tons more for consumers this year than was provided last year?

That is a correct statement. The domestic market has received 1.6 million tons more this year than last year.

Would the Minister bear in mind that to come home to an empty grate after working in the high temperature of a cotton mill is the surest way to bring about illness?