§ 48. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present state of the coal industry, he will set up, on the lines of his proposal last summer, a commission to inquire into the possibility of creating a coal-selling agency with a view to selling coal at a price which would enable a living wage to be paid to the miners, such commission to have power to explore the possibilities of making satisfactory arrangements with Continental producers and consumers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERA committee to inquire into and report upon the desirability and practicability of developing co-operative selling in the coal-mining industry was appointed on the 26th July, 1926, and reported on the 30th November, 1926. The Report has been published as a Command Paper (Cmd. 2770). The views of the Government on the Report were indicated by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in a Debate which took place on the 22nd February on a Motion by the hon. Member for Wigan. I do not consider that further inquiry on the subject is necessary.