§ 9. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Secretary for Mines whether the district selling organisations to be set up under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, will be under an obligation to supply coal of the quality required by the consumers?
§ 8. Mr. MUFFasked the Secretary for Mines whether, in any selling schemes under Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, he will insert provisions to ensure that there shall be an obligation to supply coal of the description and quality required; that there shall be no unfair discrimination as between one consumer and another; and that there shall be a right of appeal to some impartial and judicial tribunal in order to guarantee that the consumer shall be protected?
§ 12. Sir PERCY HARRISasked the Secretary for Mines whether the proposed district selling organisations will be under a statutory obligation similar to that imposed upon gas, water, and electricity undertakers, to the effect that no undue preference should be shown to any consumer or class of consumers?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Captain Crookshank)I would remind the hon. Members that Parliament has conferred no power on me to insert provisions in the schemes in force under Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930. The initiative in this matter rests with the coalowners. I have no reason to believe that consumers will be unable, in the future, to obtain the coal they require, but I do not think it is practicable, in the case of a raw material like coal, to make it a statutory obligation that the description and quality asked for must be supplied. I would, however, refer the hon. Members to the provision in the draft Orders now before the House for ensuring the maintenance of quality. With regard to the possibility of discrimination between consumers, the basis of the operation of these schemes must be fairness and equity, and if in any case there is unfair discrimination the consumer has a right 9 of appeal to Committees of Investigation which have already been set up in each district, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the 1930 Act, to deal with complaints from consumers.
§ Sir P. HARRISWould the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider inserting a Clause in the new Bill, which I understand is to be introduced in the autumn, giving him power to prevent undue preference to certain consumers, so as to secure that public utility societies will buy coal at the right price?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKI have dealt in my answer with the position as it is to-day, with the existing powers. Any question of future powers is another matter.
§ Mr. MABANECan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the coal-owners or the consumers will be the judges of the quality that the consumers require?
§ Mr. WHITEIs the Minister fully seized of the fact that there is grave anxiety on the part of consumers and undertakers, and will he take that fact fully into consideration with a view to making what modifications may be necessary?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKI assure the hon. Member that that fact had not escaped my notice, but there will be an opportunity of discussing these matters when the draft Orders relating to the Central Scheme come up for approval in this House, and I think it will be within the Rules of Order to raise all these points there, where they can be much better dealt with than by question and answer at the present moment.
§ Mr. MABANEMay I have a reply to my question?
§ 10. Mr. WHITEasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will cause to be set up in each district, in connection with the selling schemes under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, an effective tribunal to deal with complaints as to undue preference and other matters arising from the working of the schemes?
§ 14. Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make any statement in respect of any further safeguards for coal consumers under the coal selling schemes proposed to be set up under the Coal Mines Act, 1930?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKConsumers will be entitled to appeal to the Committees of Investigation set up in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930. I have already informed the Conjoint Conference of Public Utility Undertakings that I am prepared to consider any suggestions they may make, within the limits imposed by the Statute, for strengthening these committees, and I shall, of course, be prepared to give careful consideration to similar suggestions made by any other bodies.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSWill my hon. and gallant Friend give an undertaking that, when the new Coal Mines Bill is introduced in the autumn, opportunity will be taken to insert the safeguards required?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for South Croydon (Mr. H. G. Williams) always supported the setting up of the investigating committee under the Agricultural Marketing Bill, which was the only safeguard that the consumers had?
§ Mr. SPEAKERSir Percy Harris.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSOn a point of Order. I asked a supplementary question, and there was a facetious comment from the benches opposite. May I have an answer?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKI am not prepared to assume, as my hon. Friend does at the moment, that there are no safeguards.
§ 13. Sir P. HARRISasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will arrange, in connection with the new district selling organisations, that public utility undertakers and other large users of coal shall have access to the prices at which different classes of coal are sold to different classes of consumers?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKI am not prepared to press upon the coal industry a proposal which would, in effect, mean a complete disclosure to their customers of all their commercial transactions.
§ 16. Mr. A. JENKINSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will take steps to include a provision in the proposed central and district selling schemes 11 to spread the liability of maintaining the export coal trade over the whole industry, and also arrange for the draft schemes to be made available to Members of Parliament before he agrees to them?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKIn answer to the first part of the question, I would refer to the reply I gave on 26th May to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) and to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson). I am not prepared to accept the proposal contained in the second part of the question. Under the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, it is provided that the detailed amendments of the schemes within the scope of the draft Orders which have been laid before Parliament shall be approved by the Board of Trade.