4. Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether control, except as regards price, of household and industrial coal has now come to an end; whether users of coal, whether for household or industrial purposes, will no longer be obliged to accept seaborne or rail-borne coal of the quality 3 and quantity decided on by the Coal Controller, but will be allowed to make their own arrangements; and will he say what sum will be saved annually by the abolition of the Coal Controller's Department?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe Departmental control of the inland distribution of coal has been terminated. The maximum price at the pit-head continues to be fixed under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, 1915, but the orders regulating intermediate and public prices have been suspended. Consumers will be free to make their own arrangements regarding supplies of coal, subject only to the directions given to collieries by the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committees. It should be borne in mind that the work of these committees will be helped if consumers will continue to use for the time being their present channels of supply. It is not proposed to abolish the Coal Mines Department, but, as a result of the step now taken, considerable economies will be effected, including the cost of the contributions to local authorities in connection with the administration of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, which have amounted to £400,000 per annum.
Colonel NEWMANIs it the case that coal consumers will not be obliged to accept sea-borne coal in future?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThat is not the question on the Paper. It all depends on how far it is possible to get coal in any other way.