§ 1. Mr. ROBERT YOUNGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can explain the working of short time by miners in the districts adjacent to Earlestown, Lancashire, when there is an apparent shortage of coal in that area; whether the firm supplying the Earlestown Co-operative Society cannot fulfil its requirements; whether other colliery companies in the district absolutely refused to accept the society's order for coal; and whether he is aware that working people have to borrow coal from each other to meet their needs, thus causing much inconvenience and hardship to people, although they live on the border of a coalfield?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Bridgeman)I have not received any previous complaint of scarcity of coal in the Earlestown district, but am making enquiries as to the specific points raised by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. YOUNGDo I understand that the right hon. Gentleman is making inquiries of the Co-operative Society?