§ 31. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is in a position to report any farther progress in his investigations into the prices, etc., of coal sold to householders?
§ Mr. SHINWELLAs the hon. and gallant Member is aware, I addressed certain questions to the Coal Merchants Federation and received replies from them that I did not regard as satisfactory. They have since supplied me with figures of the average net profits of six firms for the years 1921–22 and 1922–23. These are being examined in my Department and I shall probably wish to ask further questions of the Federation. Meantime I propose to have a discussion with representatives of the Co-operative Societies about co-operative prices and profits and the question of distribution.
§ Mr. MARCHIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the coal distributed around the streets of London has gone up two-pence a hundredweight?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI am not aware of that, but if the hon. Member can give me specific information with regard to increases I shall be glad to consider it.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the hon. Gentleman not be in a 214 position shortly to let us have further information on this matter? What is to be his next step? Will he publish the results of his examination of prices submitted, or what?
§ Mr. LINFIELDWill the hon. Gentleman supply to the House the exact cost of coal delivered to London stations, so that Members can form their own conclusion as to the cost of getting it to the consumers?
§ Mr. PRINGLEHas the hon. Gentleman compared the profits which have been reported to him for the last two years with the profits ascertained for 1914, which information was given in evidence before the Committee which investigated the matter?
§ Mr. SHINWELLAll the matters referred to are being closely examined. The information that hon. Members are anxious to obtain from me is the information that I am anxious to obtain for myself.