§ 35. Mr. GILBERTasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the recent advances in the price of coal for home consumption; whether his Department has made any inquiry into the reasons for the advance, and if there is any justification for the prices which home consumers now have to pay; and whether, in the interest of home industries using large quantities of coal, anything can be done by his Department to prevent prices advancing as they have done this year?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Lieut.-Colonel Lane-Fox)Yes, Sir. The advance in prices is attributable to the increased demand at home and abroad. With regard to the rest of the question, I have no power to limit prices, and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 14th March last to the hon. Member for the Royton Division (Sir W. Sugden).