§ Mr. GILBERT(by Private Notice) asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade whether there is any truth in a statement which recently appeared in the Press that the London coal merchants have asked him to assent to an increase of 2s. 6d. a ton in the price of house coal?
§ Mr. PRETYMANNo, Sir; no application for a variation of the existing agreement with the London merchants has been made since last spring, and so far as I know none is in contemplation. The 1316 Merchants' Retail Prices Committee have undertaken not to alter the published prices without previous communication with the Board of Trade, and I am confident that they would not propose any alteration without serious grounds.
§ Mr. GILBERTMay I ask the hon. Gentleman if he has the power to grant an increase in coal prices without bringing the matter before this House?
§ Mr. PRETYMANIt is not a matter of increasing coal prices. The question of granting an increase only applies to the Regulation under the Coal Prices Limitation Act, and affects the price of coal at the pit-mouth. It is a question of voluntary arrangement made by the London merchants. There is no question of any compulsory Act, though the effect is the same, owing to the loyal way in which the merchants have hitherto kept their agreement. I am confident they will maintain this.