§ Miss WILKINSON(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the suddenly increased demand for coal for domestic consumption consequent on the cold weather, he will take steps to control prices and prevent undue increases to the consumer?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Colonel Lane Fox)The increase of demand for coal, resulting from the colder weather, will undoubtedly add to the difficulties of the situation and may result in an increase of price, but I am not satisfied that the benefits to be secured by controlling prices would be sufficient to warrant my taking such a step which would undoubtedly tend to limit the available supply.
§ Miss WILKINSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the poorer districts of London and in the north very high prices are already being asked for coal; is it right that such a large profit should go to the middlemen as a result of the present national emergency; and should not the emergency powers of the Government be used to prevent this exploiting of poor, helpless people, who have nothing whatever to do with the dispute either way?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI am quite aware that f he price of coal has risen very considerably, and that is inevitable in the present circumstances. I cannot assume that this is due in any large degree to profiteering by middlemen. If the hon. Lady can give me any instance of that, I will inquire into it, but at present I am not satisfied that that is the case. I should like to say that if she wishes to improve the situation, the best thing she can do is to use her undoubted influence with the miners to get them to go back.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it not a fact that instance after instance of profiteering has been given in this House to the right hon. Gentleman; will he state whether any of these cases have been followed up, and, if profiteering has been proved, has any action been taken?
§ Colonel LANE FOXYes. Every case which has been brought to my notice has been followed up, but in no case up to now have I been able to discover any actual profiteering.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that coal is being retailed in some of the poorer districts of London this morning at 4s. 2d. per cwt.—[HON. MEMBERS: "4s. 6d.!"]—and does he think that there is not some profiteering going on at that price?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, unless the hon. Member can tell me what that coal cost to the gentleman who sold it.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases at the present time outcrop owners are charging 5s., 6s. and 7s. 6d. a ton royalty, and will he consider whether that is not profiteering?
§ Captain WATERHOUSEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many miners working at the outcrop are earning as much as £2 a day, and that the cost of coal at the outcrop is 45s. or 50s. a ton?