16 MARCH 1945, Page 12

Stit,—In The Spectator of March 9th you refer to Mr.

Foot's plan for coal and state that "to the criticism that the plan provided no adequate safeguards for consumers he simply retorted that the most effective assurance that consumers could have was that of efficient production."

May I point out that according to the report of his remarks which appeared in The Times he also stated that he-had not, in fact, suggested any further powers than those contained in the Act of 1930, Which were associated with an elaborate machinery of investigation tribunals. He also suggested in the plan that the fullest information should be given of the industry's price-structure—adding, there should be nothing to