§ 68. Sir R. CLOUGHasked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that the average declared f.o.b. value of coal exported in March was 22s. 3d. per ton, while the general price charged to cottage customers during the same month was in the neighbourhood of 60s.; and can he say whether, in any previous period in the history of the coal industry, there has been such a difference between the price obtained for coal exported and that of coal sold to home consumers?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMy hon. Friend is not comparing like with like. One of his figures relates to the average f.o.b. value of various qualities of coal, sold in cargoes and intended almost exclusively for industrial purposes, and the other relates to the retail price of a particular type of high class coal, sold in small quantities and subject to additional charges for cartage and delivery.
§ Sir R. CLOUGHMay I have an answer to the last part of the question?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am afraid I cannot answer that.
§ 73. Sir R. CLOUGHasked the Secretary for Mines the average price of kitchen coal used in the ordinary cottage homes in March, 1913, and March, 1922, respectively; and how does he estimate that these two prices were made up?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo records are kept of the average of retail prices of household coal. They differ even for the same quality of coal in accordance with local conditions and the cost of transport. Nor have I any information which would enable me to analyse retail prices.