§ 2. Mr. NEVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the average number of days per week worked by collieries in the month of May as compared with the average number of days worked by coal miners at such collieries during the same period?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)The average number of days per week on which coal was hewn and wound at collieries in the United Kingdom in May last was 5.64. The Board of Trade have no information as to the average number of days worked by the miners in the same period, but some information on the subject for an earlier period may be found in the Report of the Coal Mining Organisation Committee, which was recently published.
§ 3. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to announce his policy as to limiting the price of coal; and whether he is aware that the coal companies are now making their contracts at increased rates for twelve months ahead, so that action, unless immediate, will be ineffective?
§ 5. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state what steps he proposes to take to carry out the recommendations of the Committee appointed to deal with the question of the retail price of coal; and whether, having regard to the representations received by him from many hon. Members of the House of Commons and from without, and to the failure on the part of the coal owners to come to a proper arrangement, he will now fix the price of coal for home consumption throughout the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANSeveral of the recommendations have already been adopted. I hope to be able to make a further announcement on this subject shortly. As regards new contracts I must refer to my reply to a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for the Mansfield Division on the 17th June.