SWEEPING DECISIONS FOLLOW MEETING OF BRITAIN'S EMERGENCY COMMITTEE

Chronicle (Levin), 13 February 1947, Page 5

SWEEPING DECISIONS FOLLOW MEETING OF BRITAIN'S EMERGENCY COMMITTEE

Press Assn.-

By Telegraph

d ■Copyright

Received Thursday, 11.50 a.m. LONDON, February 13. A statement from No. 10 Downing Street announced a number of sweeping new decisions, including a fine or irnprisonment for any infringement of the nation- wide restrictions on the use of electricity for domestic purposes. Reuter's underslands the penalties may range up to a fine of £100 or three months' irnprisonment, but the1 maximum may possibly be double these penalties. _The new decisions came from the first meeting of the" • special emergency committee which the Prime Minister has set up. The committee, which is under the Prime Minister's chairmanship, comprises the Ministers and Members of the Coal Board, Gentrai Electricity Board and railway executive. It will co-ordinate action from day to day. \ The Ministers on the committee are the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hugh Dalton, the President of the Board of Trade, Sir Stafford Cripps, the Minister of Fuel and Power, Mr. E. Shinwell, the Minister of Transport, Mr. Alfred Barnes, ' and the Minister of Labour and National Service, Mr. George Isaacs. The domestic consumption of electricity during periods of restriction is prohibited under Defence Regulation 55. The existing restrictmns on the industrial use of electricity will not be extended. The consumption of any form of fuel for greyho'und racing is prohibited immediately. The committee also decided on the cancellation of railway passerger services wherever necessary to enable coal trains to be ruri, and on all possible steps to ensure the rapid turn round of collievs in the Thames, including discharge at the London docks which ttw colliers do not normally use. The Labour Minister; after consultation with the trade unions, will immediately organise a supply of additional civilian labour to help unload coal wagons. The services will co-operate in this task. The Minister of Transport will immediately arrange the supply of lorries to help unload coal from the wagons. The Minister of Fuel and Power was authorised to requisition coal to enable the diversion of supplies from the original consigner in order to ensure the rapid turn round of wagons. The Ministers of.Fuel and Transport were authorised to take all steps, including the calling in of service personnel and transport, to accelerate the lifting of opencast coal stacked on the ground. As soon as the emergency lessens the relaxation of the industrial electricity restrictions will take priority over any domestic relaxation. The statement says that no date as to when a relaxation of the industrial restrictions will become possible can yet be given, but this relaxation may take place gradually.