§ 83. Mr. BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that some owners in Scotland are rendering useless the provisions of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, 1915, by making it a condition precedent to coal merchants obtaining supplies of coal that they must contract to pay the existing high prices of coal during the next six months (and in some cases the next ten months) with the alternative that in the event of their refusal to contract no supplies of coal will be given; if he has received letters from coal merchants in Glasgow stating that coal has been offered for sale on the conditions mentioned; and, if so, if he has considered these letters, and does he regard the offers so made as a contravention of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, 1915; and, if so, what steps does he propose to take in the matter?
Mr. RUNCIMANI have received representations on this subject. Where there were no contracts two years ago with 1364 which comparison can be made, the determination of the proper price for new contracts presents some difficulties. The whole question is bound up with that of securing supplies, and I think the best course will be for representatives of the merchants to discuss it with the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committee for Scotland in the first instance.
§ Mr. BARNESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that they decline to do that, and does he know that the Lanarkshire coalowners are stipulating that contracts should be made now instead of at the end of June; and is he aware that a letter has been sent to his Department asking for advice on this matter and no reply has yet been received?
Mr. RUNCIMANI am not aware that they have consulted the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committee for Scotland. My information is that they have not yet done so. If they had done so in the first instance we should most probably have arrived more rapidly at a solution of the difficulty.
§ Mr. BARNESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this country is in the hands of the Lanarkshire coalowners?