§ 42. Mr. KEATINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a form is issued to colliery owners to ascertain the amount of their stocks; and, if so, whether he will add a question to ascertain the amount of coal that has been sold for delivery until the end of 1915 and until the end of June, 1916?
§ Mr. PRETYMANFor some months past colliery owners have made to the Board of Trade a return of the stocks of coal held by them and of their output, and I am glad to take the opportunity of acknowledging the ready co-operation, with few exceptions, of the colliery owners in this respect. I am unwilling to place a further burden upon them which may prove to be unnecessary, but I shall have to consider how far a general return of the amounts of coal sold forward may be required in connection with the Bill which was given a Third Reading in this House yesterday.