§ 90. Mr. CLEMENT EDWARDSasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the explanation for the delay in presenting the Financial Statement of and Report upon the Coal Control Department which, by the terms of the Coal Mines. Control Agreement (Confirmation) Act, 1918, had to be made up to 31st March last and presented to Parliament; and if, having regard to the importance of this House being placed in possession of exact information with regard to the administration of the Coal Controller for the purpose of forming a right judgment on Government policy in relation to the coal trade of this country, he can state; when the said statutory Financial Statement and Report will be in the hands of Members?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. The accounts referred to by the hon. Member only relate to the receipts and expenditure under the Coal Mines Control Agreement (Confirmation) Act, 1918 (Section 3), and do not include the cost of the Coal Mines Department. Particulars of such receipts and expenditure down to 31st March, 1919, will be found in Vote 26 of the Unclassified Services for the year 1919–20. Final accounts in respect of the years 1917–18 and 1918–19 have recently been rendered to the Comptroller and Auditor-General in the form prescribed by the Treasury, and will in due course be laid before Parliament with any Report thereon which he may see fit to make.