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54
Solid Fuel Appliances
A study of the figures relating to these appliances indicates that
there was no significant downward trend in the number designed to burn
open fire cokes which were fitted until No. 4 area was confirmed by the
Minister. This was during the severe winter of early 1963 when difficulties
arose in the distribution of solid fuels. An additional factor having
a bearing on this point was that at this time portable firelighters became
eligible for grant whereas previously an appliance not drilled for integral
gas ignition ranked for replacement by a new appliance. It will be seen,
however, that solid fuel appliances gained some of their lost ground in
the two areas which became operative at the latter end of the "cold"
year.
The next and most significant trend appeared in 1964, when the
percentage of new open fires installed was nearly halved within little over
a year. This was associated with the White Paper on "Domestic Fuel
Supplies" published during December 1963 and which brought to light
the decline in availability of open fire cokes and encouraged the installation
of hard or industrial coke appliances. Whilst there had been a slight
upward trend previously in the number of free standing and other stoves
capable of burning hard cokes, the percentage of such appliances, i.e.
room heaters and underfloor draught fires, more than doubled
during 1964.
A final point to be noted when comparing the various areas, is that
in Nos. 1, 2, 5, 8, the proportion of tenanted premises is higher, which
in turn means that a greater proportion of open fires which cost less to
provide are installed.
Gas Fires
The trend with gas fire installations has been both spectacular and
consistent, slow to accelerate, it appeared as the fuel least affected by the
cold spell of 1963, and received its first boost at that time. A further
boost followed in 1964.
Electrical Appliances
(1) Direct Electric Heaters. This is the most difficult trend to
analyse, for although the percentage of electric fires installed in 1964 is
less than three years ago, there is no set pattern. A decline might have
been expected immediately following the power reduction of 1963, but
instead we find No. 4 area contained a higher percentage.
(2) Storage Heaters. The White Paper encouraged the use of off
peak electric storage heaters, and limited numbers of these were installed
in 1964.