§ 11. Mr. MILLARasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make his promised statement as to the steps which he has taken to carry out the recommendations of the Committee on the retail price of coal; and whether he proposes to fix and regulate the price of coal for home consumption?
Mr. RUNCIMANI must refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for the Mansfield Division.
§ Mr. MILLARAs this matter has been under consideration for a period of several months, and is one of grave, urgent importance, will not the right hon. Gentleman come to some decision now on the matter, and give us an assurance, at least, that he will be in a position to make a statement next week at the very latest?
Mr. RUNCIMANIf my hon. Friend will refer to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Mansfield, he will see I pointed out that matters of great importance relating to the coal trade and consumers had to be dealt with by the Government during the past few weeks, and that that unavoidably delayed the-steps contemplated.
§ Mr. MILLARCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any undertaking as to when he will come to a decision on the matter?
§ Mr. WATTCan the right hon. Gentleman say how long ago it is since these recommendations were made to him?
Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir, it is some months ago. Most of the recommendations, except that dealing with maximum prices, have been adopted.
§ Sir LEO CHIOZZA MONEYIs it not the fact that the Committee recommended that if there was no fall in the price of coal in the near future the nation should take control of its own coal supplies?
Mr. RUNCIMANI do not remember that recommendation of the Committee. I understand it was discussed among other matters.