§ 25. Sir W. de FRECEasked the Secretary for Mines if, taking the pit-head price of coal at 50s., he can say how this charge is made up in detail, and give the corresponding detail is for the pit-head price of similar coal in April last?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI regret that the information is not available. In present circumstances, prices are much more affected by short supplies than by production costs. At the same time, the partial returns to work entails wide differences in costs, so that a price which may be very remunerative to a colliery working at. full strength may be insufficient to cover costs at one where only a fraction of the normal output is obtained.
§ Sir W. de FRECEWould it not be possible to obtain this information?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, Sir; as I tried to explain, the circumstances vary with every colliery.
§ Mr. HARDIEWill the hon. Gentleman say how it is, when control is being exercised by the Mines Department., that the scarcity of coal should raise the prices, and why that should be included as a cost of production?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI think the hon. Member must find his own answer to that question.
§ Mr. HARDIEI never put questions in this House to find my own answer. I put the question to the Secretary for Mines in the hope that with all his years of experience he might have reached that stage of being able—
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Everard.