asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps have been taken during the past 18 months to enable the coalmines to provide for the power stations the quality of coal for the consumption of which they were designed and with which they were supplied prewar; and how soon the resumption of deliveries of such coal can be relied upon.

All possible steps have been taken during the past 18 months to enable the coalmines to provide suitable qualities of coal to power stations, but the quantity of coal required for generating electricity is greatly in excess of what it was before the war, and is still increasing. It must be some time before the quality can be restored to prewar standards.

Is the Minister aware that if the coalmines were in a position to supply the class of coal for which the power stations and boiler houses were designed, the existing plants in those stations would be in a position to supply another 400,000 horsepower at the peak load, and thus diminish the amount of shedding which has had to be done?

There is some substance in what the hon. Member has said. But, as he well knows, it is only in the last few weeks that the industry has been brought under national ownership.

But the industry has been under the charge of the Minister for something like 18 months—presumably he was responsible for it? Did he not use his influence on the coalowners to provide the necessary washing plant, and so on?

Exactly, but the coal-owners have been unable to provide the necessary facilities for screening and washing.

May I ask that it will not be the policy of the Coal Board to sacrifice output in order to get cleaner coal?

I do not think there is the slightest doubt that the Coal Board will do very much better than the friends of the hon. and gallant Member.

When do the Coal Board expect to equal the output of the mines before the war?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how stocks of coal now held by the electricity supply industry compare with those held 12 months ago; what stocks he estimates will be held early in March; and whether he anticipates that these will be adequate to ensure the full use of the available generating plant.

The latest figure of stocks held by the electricity supply industry is 1,293,156 tons as compared with 2,315,911 tons held a year ago. In view of many variable factors, I cannot forecast stocks for early March but power station requirements of coal have the highest priority and everything possible will be done to maintain their stocks at an adequate level.