A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK r E Government's fuel scheme is presented to
Parliament and the ation with the full weight of a united Cabinet behind it. But the Cabinet has, I gather, been by no means united in its discus- sions. There has very definitely been two schools of thought, and the White Paper scheme must be regarded as in some degree a compromise. Contrary to the assumptions of those who believe that the Prime Minister is so intent on the day-to-day conduct of the war that he leaves domestic affairs entirely to his colleagues, Mr. Churchill has, I understand, given considerable personal attention to the fuel question. And since he is, after all, a Conservative in these days he is not disposed to regard the 1922 Committee as lightly as, for example, Sir Stafford Cripps or Sir John Anderson would. Sir Stafford, it may be assumed, has stood throughout for establishing as much State control as possible over the coal-industry as soon as possible, while Sir John Anderson, faultlessly efficient himself, wanted an efficient rationing scheme, and considered that Sir William Beveridge's would meet the need. In the new scheme there is a little for everyone. Sir Stafford gets State control ; Sir John Anderson gets recognition of the principle of rationing ; the Prime Minister and the 1922 Committee get a postponement of compulsory rationing till voluntary restriction,has been tried. Harmony, in fact, every- where.
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