§ Mr. MACLEAN(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the high retail prices now being charged to domestic consumers of coal, he will put into operation Regulation 14, paragraph 2, sub-section (c), which gives him power to fix prices of coal?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI cannot at present add anything to the answers I gave yesterday arising out of the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd) and the statement I made later during the Debate.
§ Mr. MACLEANAre we to take it that the high prices being charged to domestic consumers of coal are to continue, and that in the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman no profiteering exists, although domestic consumers who live only three miles from a coalfield are being asked to pay 5s. 6d. and 6s. a cwt. for coal?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, Sir. I hope that at a very early date we shall see a very considerable reduction in the price of coal, and that reduction will be hastened when hon. Members opposite stop doing their best to persuade the men from returning to work.
§ Mr. MACLEANAre we to take it that the Secretary for Mines blames hon. Members on these benches for keeping up the price of coal?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThe hon. Member may take my answer, and interpret it as he likes.
§ Mr. MACLEANAre we take it that the epidemic of infantile paralysis that broke out at Broadstairs is now affecting the Secretary for Mines?
§ Captain FRASERIs it not the fact that one of the recommendations which Mr. Cook has given the nation for curing our difficulties in the coalfield is to raise the price of coal?