§ 20. Mr. SUTTONasked the Secretary for Mines what was the average selling price of household coal at the pit's mouth in March of this year; what is the average price of household coal to-day at the pit's mouth; whether his attention has been called to a case where a coal merchant of St. Anne's-on-Sea charged on 30th March at the rate of £3 5s. per ton; and whether he will take steps to control coal prices in the interest of the general public?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXI have no particulars of the average pithead price of household coal separately from other coal. The hon. Member himself has been good enough to call my attention to the case mentioned in the question, and I have suggested to the Coal Merchants' Federation that they should look into it. The Government do not propose to introduce any legislation dealing with the production or sale of coal pending the result of the forthcoming Inquiry into the coal-mining industry.
§ Mr. SUTTONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the innocent coal owners and merchants have been writing protesting and saying how kind and generous they were, when it was proved that they had been charging £3 5s. a ton, even the Mayor of St. Anne's, I am informed, as well?