asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in connection with the designating of smokeless zones, what action his Department takes, before he confirms smoke control area orders, to ensure that there will be available adequate supplies of the suitable types of fuel necessary to give satisfactory results in modern domestic solid fuel appliances.

The estimated fuel requirements for every proposed smoke control area are considered by the appropriate regional advisory committee on smokeless fuels, which reports to my noble Friend the Minister of Power about the prospects of supply of suitable fuels to meet these requirements. My noble Friend advises on the basis of these reports before my right hon. Friend decides whether to confirm any Smoke Control Order.

In view of all the care that is taken, will the Minister explain why, when there are plenty of stocks of smokeless fuel, there is so much dissatisfaction that it does not seem to burn in any of the appliances that are available? What is done to see that one matches up with the other?

My advice is that there are ample supplies of suitable coke throughout the country and that there are, in the smoke control areas, on the whole, sufficient supplies of premium fuels as well. Advice to householders on suitable appliances is primarily a matter for the local authority.