§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the 452 growing scarcity and dearness of coal, and in view of the altered circumstances of the Trade since the inquiry into our coal, resources made by Royal Commission a generation ago, and the fact that experience has shown the conclusions of that Commission to be erroneous, he can now see his way to cause a fresh inquiry to be made in order to remove the uncertainty that prevails as to the quantity of coal remaining unworked and available for naval, domestic, manufacturing, and, commercial purposes.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think the scarity and dearness of coal have any relation to the larger issue dealt with in the main part of the question. The question of a revised survey of the coalfields is, I understand, engaging the attention of a Committee now sitting in, regard to the geological survey, and a Report will be made to the Lord President of the Council. I think it will be found useful to collect tabulated information with a view to determining whether it is necessary to hold further inquiry into, this very important subject.