§ 24. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the quantities of coal imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland since the 1st May in the current year; the quantities of such coal imported at the instance of His Majesty's Government and by private contract at the instance of firms and individuals; and the average price per ton paid for coal imported by His Majesty's Government?
§ Colonel LANE FOXBetween the 1st May and 30th October approximately 15,400,000 tons of coal arrived at ports in Great Britain. As regards the rest of the question, I do not think that it would be in the public interest to give these particulars at present.
| 1. Increase in numbers. | ||||
| Period covered by dispute. | Maximum increase in numbers of persons in receipt of domiciliary relief in areas directed affected by the dispute. | Net increase in the numbers of persons in receipt of domiciliary relief in England and Wales at the same date. | ||
| Number. | Percentage. | Number. | Percentage. | |
| 1893 (June to November) | 2,270 | 11 | 25,489 | 5 |
| 1898 (End April to July) | 43,751 | 155 | 32,200 | 6 |
| 1921 (1st April to 1st July) | 464,683 | 373 | 647,500 | 144 |
| 1926 (1st May to date)* | 1,162,592 | 337 | 1,266,095 | 126 |
| * This estimate covers the period ended 30th October, 1926 |
§ 2. Increase in cost of relief.
§ Records showing the cost of relief during the period of the earlier disputes are not available, but it is estimated that, during the dispute in 1921, the cost of outdoor relief in money and kind in the areas directly affected increased by at least £850,000. As compared with the rate of expenditure in April, 1926, the cost of outdoor relief in money and kind was greater, during the period from the beginning of May, 1926, to the end of October, 1926, by, approximately, £5,800,000 in the areas directly affected by the dispute.
§ Mr. SMILLIE(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether he