§ 18. Captain Peter Macdonaldasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that, now that more economic prices are being obtained for public utility and industrial fuels, it is necessary that the price of household coal to the public should be reduced; and what steps his Department are now taking to ensure that such reductions will come into being to an effective extent at an early date?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by the 896 Prime Minister to a question asked by the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell) on 17th February, in which he stated that the question of safeguarding the interests of the consumer was receiving his attention.
§ 23. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received information regarding the increase in coal prices in Glasgow and the West of Scotland; and whether he will give the comparative prices paid by industrial and domestic users for the years 1935 and 1936, and the latest available date?
§ Captain CrookshankThe net proceeds per ton for all coal produced in Scotland and disposed of commercially was 12s. 3d. in 1935, 13s. 8½d. in 1936 and 15s. 7¾d. in 1937. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available in my Department.
§ Mr. KirkwoodWill not the hon. and gallant Gentleman make further inquiries into this matter, because the figures which I have show that the ascertained price at the pithead is 13s. 1¼d., whereas in the West of Scotland we are paying £2 6s. 8d. a ton for the same coal?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Minister has said that he cannot give the information.
§ Mr. KirkwoodOn a point of Order. The question which I asked has not been-answered.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Minister has said that he has no particulars on this subject.
§ Mr. KirkwoodSurely it is his duty to get them. That is why we pay him £2,000 a year.