THE COAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM COAL YEARS 1943 - 1944 AND 1944 - 1945. Memorandum by the Minister of Fuel and Power.

-###- abnormally mild winter of 1942-43 have been lost through the excess of consumption over production this year. 4. At the same time total distributed stocks are higher than at one time seemed likely. In my memorandum of 5th January, L.P.(44)3, I stated that at the levels of production and transport capacity which then appeared probable, we should end the winter with rather less than 10,000,000 tons in distributed stocks, including the operational reserve of 2,000,000 tons. That the figure finally realised is, in spite of strikes and transport losses, 2,700,000 tons better than this, is due partly to certain gains and savings which could not have been foreseen in January and partly to further severe restrictions of deliveries and consumption over and above those previously approved by the Committee which I put into effect as the coal situation grow progressively worse, particularly during the period of severe strikes in March and April.