§ 59. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the complaints as to coal dealers not selling at the prices issued by the Board of Trade, and the impossibility of dealing with the same under the present law, he will consider the issue of Regulations with penalties under the Defence of the Realm Act to prevent this overcharging, mainly of small buyers of coal?
Mr. ROBERTSI understand that the Controller of Coal Mines discussed the question of small dealers' charges with the London Coal Merchants Committee on Saturday last, and that the Committee promised to make a full report on the subject. In the mean tine I am unable to add anything to the reply which I gave to the question asked by the hon. Member on the 22nd February.