§ 25. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will say how many convictions of colliery owners have been secured for breaches of the Coal Mines (Limitation) Act and the amount of such fines; and will he at the same time state how many hundreds of communications have reached the Board of Trade complaining of overcharges and breaches of the said Act?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Pretyman)I am not aware of any convictions under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. 2883 Numerous complaints have been made to the Board of Trade and have been investigated where it has been possible to obtain sufficient particulars. In many cases the sellers have been able to justify their charges. In others the price has been revised at the request of the Department.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMIs the hon. Gentleman aware that prices are now being asked for house coal £1 above those provided for in the Act? If he has evidence as to companies asking these prices will he institute prosecutions? If so, I will give him a list now.
§ Mr. PRETYMANIf the hon. Member will wait until Question 28 he will have an answer.
§ 26 and 27. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many applications, if any, have been made by colliery owners to the Board to increase the sum of 4s. provided under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, 1915; if so, have such requests been acceded to; what substituted prices, if any, has he sanctioned; how has he arrived at such substituted prices, seeing that there is not a single official at the Board of Trade who has any knowledge of colliery costs; and (2) seeing there is not a single permanent official at the Board of Trade who has any knowledge whatsoever of the coal trade, is he aware that the Home Office have a number of officials fully acquainted with, not only the technical management of mines, but with the buying and selling of coal and the cost of producing coal; and will he therefore advise the Prime Minister that, in the interests of efficiency, the Price of Goal (Limitation) Act, 1915, should be administered by the Home Office?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe standard amount under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, was increased to 5s. for the Forest of Dean district in September last. Applications have been since received for increases in respect of three other districts. Two were refused, and the third is under consideration. Such cases are decided on an examination of the evidence submitted. The considerations to be taken into account are not wholly of a technical nature, but where expert advice is necessary it is obtained. This is true of the administration of the Act generally, and I do not think that the alteration suggested by my hon. Friend is necessary.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMIs the hon. Gentleman aware that some of the companies which have made application to increase the price of coal under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act are making 50 per cent. profit? Is he aware that the Government have taken no step whatever to inquire into the facts where the cost has risen above the Act of Parliament?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better give notice of that supplementary question.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMThe question I have asked is on the Paper, and it has not been answered.
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe question which was asked has been answered, and also the supplementary question, by the statement that only three applications have been received and none has been granted.
§ 28. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, 1915, is being ignored by many colliery owners and that he is aware of this fact, he will give the reasons why he refuses to institute proceedings against persons breaking the law; whether he is aware that, following the official statement that the Act does not impose upon the Board of Trade, nor did the Board ever undertake, the duty of prosecuting in cases where the allegation was made that illegal prices had been charged, many colliery owners are now ignoring the Act and refuse to supply persons who refuse to contract out of the Act; and will he, seeing that this Act was passed at the instigation of large numbers of private Members, take steps to see that the Act is obeyed and prevent the law being brought into contempt?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe Board of Trade can hardly themselves institute proceedings under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act as the Court has to refer certain questions to them for decision. I should be sorry to think that many colliery owners are ignoring the Act. Irregularities no doubt occur from time to time, and, as I have already indicated, where such cases are brought to their notice the Board have as a rule been able to put matters right. Cases of refusal to supply can be dealt with by the district coal and coke supplies committees. The administration of the Act is not an easy task, and if my hon. Friend would care to call at the Board of 2885 Trade the officials would be very glad to explain the practice adopted and to receive any suggestions he may think fit to make.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMIs the Board fully aware that where colliery owners decline to supply coal at the prices under the Act the owners say they have no coal to sell, and therefore the consumer has to pay these prices?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe people who are aggrieved can take proceedings under the Act. It is not for the Board of Trade to prosecute. If the hon. Baronet will call at the Board of Trade and see the officials who have to administer the Act with great difficulty, I shall be much obliged to him.
§ 52. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the Board of Trade refused, when the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act was before this House, to give our Allies the benefit of the same, and that, owing to the Board of Trade taking no steps to regulate the price of coal or freights, the price of coal to Italy, f.o.b. Cardiff, has risen from 20s. to 60s. per ton, freights to Genoa from 8s. to 80s. per ton;. that the Board of Trade have recently fixed the price of certain qualities of coal for France at prices 75 per cent. above the pre-war period, though the cost of producing coal has only risen 3s. to 4s. per ton; whether, seeing that the Exchequer receives 70 per cent. of these excess profits, His Majesty's Government will notify our Allies that all such excess profits arising from the sale or shipment of such coals will be refunded by this country to them?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. It is not correct to say that the Board of Trade have fixed the price of coal exported to France. The prices recently announced were fixed by the coalowners at the request of the French Government, conveyed to them through the Board. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the coalowners have accepted the proposals put forward by the Board of Trade? Is it not a fact that prices were regulated by the Government?
§ Mr. PRETYMANNegotiated.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill the hon. Gentleman have the matter explained to the 2886 Allies, so as to prevent the mischievous misconceptions arising from stupid questions like that which has been put down?
§ Sir A. MARKHAMHas the hon. Gentleman consulted with the hon. Member to put him up to ask that question?