§ 25 and 27. Mr. BOOTHBYasked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether His Majesty's Government are taking any action to prevent profiteering in coal imported from abroad during the present crisis;
(2) Whether he is aware that the prices being charged to fishermen and others engaged in important national industries for foreign coal vary between 55s. and 65s. a ton; and, in view of the fact that the coal is quoted at less than 20s. a ton at the ports of export, does His Majesty's Government propose to take any action to prevent profiteering in coal imported from abroad during the present crisis?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI will answer these questions together. So far as the fishing industry is concerned I am informed that a good deal of coal is imported direct by those engaged in the industry, but that where coal is bought from merchants prices in England range from 40s. to 50s. per ton and in Scotland from 44s. 6d. to 60s. My hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that suitable coal can be bought on the Continent at less than 20s. f.o.b. As regards the last part of the question I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend on the 20th July.
§ Colonel DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that coal is being sold in Southwark at 3s. 1d. per cwt.?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI should be very glad to have any information I can from the hon. Member, but at the same time the sale of coal in small quantities is different from the sale in large quantities.
§ Colonel DAYDoes the right hon. Gentleman not realise that coal at this price is a very great hardship on the poorer classes of the community, and will be not take steps to prevent it?
§ 26. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has yet established any safeguards against profiteering in household coal?
§ Colonel LANE FOXAs I explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member for East Aberdeen on the 20th July, it is not the policy of the Government to control prices unless abuses should arise which force them to do so. That position has certainly not arisen yet.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his attitude in continually refusing to deal with this matter is encouraging these people, and that profiteering, especially as regards cwts. of coal, is worse than ever it was?
§ Colonel LANE FOXIf the hon. and gallant Member will bring me proof of profiteering, I shall be extremely glad to go into it. That will be much more useful than merely asking vague questions.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this question has been debated on the Floor of this House again and again and that in the minds of impartial people profiteering has been amply proved?
§ Colonel LANE FOXIt is because the hon. and gallant Member has not produced proof that I have asked him to do so.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I supplied him with particulars that coal was being sold at 4s. per cwt., and that he was so satisfied it was profiteering that he promptly took steps to have it reduced?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI am glad the hon. Member has given me such an excellent testimonial.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs not that one case in which profiteering has been proved, and does the right hon. Gentleman not think that 3s. 6d. per cwt. is profiteering?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI am afraid that in the present circumstances, and considering the difficulties of getting coal from abroad, it cannot be considered profiteering.
§ 28. Mr. SUTTONasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the Bury Coalowners' and Merchants' Association, in Lancashire, are charging the household consumers at the rate of £3 15s. per ton, an 3s. 9d. per cwt., for their coal; and whether he will take action against this firm for profiteering?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI understand that the coal referred to was part of a cargo of privately-imported coal which cost the merchants over £3 a ton into depot at Bury. The coal, about one-third of which was slack, had to be screened by the merchants and 3s. 9d. was the price for the large coal sold in hundredweight and half-hundredweight bags. This does not, therefore, appear to be a case in which the use of the word "profiteering" can be justified.
§ Mr. SUTTONMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's officials ascertain the price paid for this imported coal, or whether they only take the statements of the merchants themselves?
§ Colonel LANE FOXMy information came from the coal emergency officer in the district who himself went into the whole question.
§ Mr. PALINGCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us what price is being paid for the coal imported by the Government under the Supplementary Estimate which the House passed a few days ago?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI cannot answer that question.
§ Sir JOSEPH NALLWould it not be more appropriate if these cases of hardship were communicated to the Miners' Federation.