Britain‘s Fuel Problems

Abstract

THE authoritative reports issued periodically by P.E.P. (Political and Economic Planning)— an independent non-party organisation— have established for the compilers a reputation for clearly argued, factual and objective analyses to which industry and politicians alike may turn for guidance. Before the War, P.E.P. had issued reports dealing with the coal industry (1936), the electricity supply industry (1936) and the gas industry (1939) of Britain ; all are now out of print. But for the War, a fourth report, on the co-ordination of the fuel and power industries, would have followed in natural sequence ; and the need for such co-ordination became one of the principal reasons for the formation of the Ministry of Fuel and Power in 1942. "The British Fuel and Power Industries", published at the end of 1947*, reviews developments which have taken place since the earlier reports were issued. It does not argue the advantages or disadvantages of nationalization, and was prepared on the assumption that before long the major fuel industries would, in fact, be brought under national ownership. One aim was to indicate some of the steps necessary to bring these industries to a state of the fullest efficiency, and to suggest broad lines along which their co-ordination might be achieved.