asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in the Featherstone area of Yorkshire on 5th November many hundredweights of coal were -burnt on bonfires; and what action was taken by his Department and the local authority to prevent this wastage of fuel.

I have made inquiries and am informed that in the Featherstone district on 5th November small quantities of coal slag and dust collected by children from local slag heaps or from unusable residue of miners "home" coal left as refuse to be cleared away by the local authority were burnt on a few bonfires. There is no evidence whatever to support the suggestion in the question that many hundredweights of coal were thus consumed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the "unusable residue of miners' 'home' coal" was far better quality material than my constituents are receiving?