§ 1. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced by the Wolverhampton Town Council in obtaining competitive tenders for the supply of coal and that the total increase in the price of coal since the new marketing scheme was started is 4s. 2d. per ton at Cosford, 6s. per ton at Tettenhall, and 5s. 9d. at Dimmingsdale, percentage increases of 29 per cent., 46 per cent. and 62 per cent.; and whether he will take steps to enable alternative tenders to be obtained?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)The control of the sale of coal by a central authority involves the absence of inter-colliery price competition, but in the cases quoted by the hon. Member I understand that the increases in 1385 price since 1st August, 1936, when the organised selling schemes came into operation are smaller than those suggested in the question. As regards the last part of the question, I would suggest that if this town council considers that it is being treated unfairly, it should complain to the committees of investigation for the districts in question.
§ Mr. ManderDoes not the Minister consider that these increases are beyond all reason?
§ Captain CrookshankI have just told the hon. Member that they are not the correct increases, and that the correct ones are smaller.