§ 14. Mr. SITCHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that local administrators of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order with many years' experience resent and consider it a reflection on their honour in having to obtain the sanction of the Coal Controller or his representative. more or less influenced by trade considerations and of no administrative experience, before instituting any proceedings. Whilst in other spheres local officers have much more important matters to decide; and whether he will reconsider the necessity of revoking Clause 71 of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919, which is without precedent, and bestow upon local authorities and such of their officers as they may appoint power to decide whether proceedings shall be taken similar to that obtaining under the Food Orders?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI am not aware of the existence of any dissatisfaction of the nature referred to. As regards the latter part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on the 20th November.
18. Mr. J. JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether in administering coal prices under the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919, experience has shown that the public are at present inadequately protected against overcharges made by registered coal merchants, in view of the fact that the Coal Controller's district representatives, from whom local fuel overseers have to obtain a written consent before proceedings can be instituted for excess prices, are directly or indirectly interested or have been previously employed in the coal trade; and if he will say what steps will be taken to deal with this matter?
§ Sir A. GEDDESNo, Sir. The experience of the Coal Mines Department does not bear out the suggestion contained in the question.
19. Mr. J. JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is no difficulty in obtaining consent to prosecute a small coal dealer selling in quantities less than two cwts, for charging an excess price for coal, whilst consent Can seldom, if ever, be obtained under the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919, to prosecute a registered coal merchant for charging an excess price, even if evidence is or can be procured; and whether he proposes to take any steps to deal with the matter?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI am advised by the Coal Controller that he has no information which would justify the suggestions made in the question, and I shall be obliged if the hon. Member will let me have any evidence in his possession.
20. Mr. J. JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state how many registered coal merchants have been prosecuted under the Household Fuel and Lighting Orders, 1918 and 1919, respectively; how many licensed coal dealers have been prosecuted under the 1918 and 1919 Orders, respectively; whether he is aware that there is much more overcharging for coal by colliery proprietors and registered merchants than by licensed coal dealers selling in a less quantity than 967 2cwts.; that the practice is prevalent for registered coal merchants to sell inferior coal at a higher-quality price to consumers; and that it is prevalent to sell common coal at a higher-quality price to dealers for resale to the consumers who, in consequence, have to pay an excess price contrary to the laws made and provided; whether there are only six officials to prevent these excess charges being made throughout the country; whether he will consider the desirability of extending these duties, in addition to these six officials, to local authorities and such of their officials as they may appoint; and whether he will consider the advisability of amending Part VII., the Sale of Coal, of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919, and, before doing so, seek the advice of local administrative officers who have experience of the many defects and omissions of the Order?
§ Sir A. GEDDESAs regards the first two parts of the question, I regret that the Coal Mines Department are unable at short notice to add to the information which I furnished in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Wentworth Division of Yorks on 8th December. As regards the third part of the question, I have no reason to believe that the allegations are justified by the facts. With regard to the final part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bolton on the 4th December.