§ 29. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to take any steps to secure the provision of adequate steamers to carry coal from the North of England to London at reasonable and fair rates of freight?
Mr. RUNCIMANHis Majesty's Government have taken steps to meet the case to some extent by employing in the coasting trade, and especially for the carriage of coal to London, enemy steamships detained in the United Kingdom for the period of the War. I understand that the increase in the available tonnage has already had appreciable effect in the reduction of coal freights to London.
§ Mr. CROOKSDoes the Government itself fix the rates?
§ Mr. CROOKSThen it is possible to rig the market.
§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYThe rate of freight was 2s. before the War broke out, the rate paid by the Admiralty for ships commandeered is 4s., and the rate of freight now charged is 11s., and—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is giving information, and not asking a question.
§ 32. Sir F. FLANNERYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet in a position to state the result of his examination into the complaints of the London gas companies as to their difficulties in obtaining a proper supply of coal to maintain the lighting of London; whether he will state if any steps have been taken by the Board of Trade to relieve the scarcity of tonnage for coal transport from the North to the Thames; and whether the supply of tonnage obtained from the use of interned alien vessels will be at charges proportionate to those paid by the Admiralty for the hire of coastwise colliers commandeered out of the Thames trade?
Mr. RUNCIMANIn consequence of the deficiency of the seaborne coal supplies to London duo to shortage of tonnage, the Government have brought into use certain detained enemy steamers, which are now running from the coal ports to London. For the use of these vessels the market rates of freight are being charged, as any other course would have the effect of some contractors getting an advantage over others, there not being enough of these Government vessels to meet all needs, and would probably lead to free vessels leaving this run for a more remunerative one elsewhere. The increase in the available tonnage has already conduced to some reduction of freight rates.
§ Sir F. FLANNERYIs it not the fact that 11s. a ton is being charged, that coal in the East End of London is being charged to the buyer at 2s. 6d. cwt., and that gas is also to be increased in price?
Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot possibly answer questions with regard to the price of gas in the East End of London without notice. These vessels, I understand, have been let at the maximum rate of 11s. I cannot say without notice what is the present rate, but I understand that before they came on the market as much as 13s. 6d. was paid.
§ Sir F. FLANNERYIs it not the fact that the Admiralty are only paying 4s. a ton for vessels commandeered instead of these particular vessels?
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONHow are the market rates ascertained by the Board of Trade?
Mr. RUNCIMANThey are not ascertained by the Board of Trade, but by managers appointed by the Department for the fixing of these vessels in the North, and the usual exchange methods are adopted for ascertaining what the market rates are.