§ 8. Sir ARTHUR FELLasked if the Government engineers have made any recent reports on the prospects of the coal mines in Kent, and if such reports can be communicated to the House?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo recent reports have been made by any Government engineer on the prospects of the coal mines in Kent.
§ 9. Sir A. FELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if there are any collieries in Kent which are now regularly producing coal; if so, what was the production for the last month available and what is the price per ton the coal fetches at the pit's mouth; and if any other coal mines in Kent are expected to be shortly producing coal?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThree collieries in Kent are now regularly producing coal, namely, Tilmanstone, Snowdon and Chislet, and the outputs from these during the last four weeks for which returns are available were respectively 12,334, 9,576 and 5,801 tons. The average selling price at the pitmouth for the quarter ending December last was 33s. per ton. It is not expected that any other mine in Kent will reach a coal-producing stage in the near future.
§ Sir A. FELLIn view of the very considerable output, will the Government consider the advisability of having a report of a reliable nature made with respect to these collieries, which the public may read?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI will inquire, and let my hon. Friend know.