36. Miss Wardasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can announce the personnel of the committee to consider the prices charged for coal to the general and domestic consumer?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)Yes, Sir. Sir Walter Monckton, K.C., has accepted the chairmanship of this committee, of which the terms of reference are:
To inquire into the organisation and methods of distribution of coal, coke and manufactured fuel; to investigate the various items which make up the differences between the prices received by the producers and those paid by the consumers, and to make recommendations.
§ The other members of the committee are:
§ Professor J. H. Clapham, C.B.E.
§ Sir Herbert Hiles, M.B.E., J.P.
§ Mr. H. Lancelot H. Hill, M.A., of Hill Vellacott and Company, Chartered Accountants.
§ Miss E. T. Kelly, Warden of St. Margaret's House, Bethnal Green.
§ Sir John Lorne MacLeod, G.B.E., LL.D., and
§ Major E. G. Monro, O.B.E., of George Monro and Company, Covent Garden.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that he has not included a single trade unionist or co-operator in that list, and can he give the reason why?
§ Captain CrookshankThe best committee possible was appointed for this purpose.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman pretend that the personnel he has selected for this important committee are truly representative of the consumers in this country?
§ Mr. Aneurin BevanDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that the report of this committee will miss the purposes for which it was established, because it will not carry the confidence of the country with it?
§ Captain CrookshankI think we had better wait until we see what the report is.
§ Mr. James GriffithsWas not consideration given to the desirability of including one if not more members on the committee familiar with the mining industry and, therefore, able to bring experience to bear on the problem.
§ Captain CrookshankThis committee, like every other, is able to take evidence from every quarter.