§ 52. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Chan cellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the saving to the Treasury of the Government paying such increases in the cost of coal as are necessary instead of allowing the price to rise, thereby avoiding all-round increases in subsequent stages of production of munitions, he ultimate cost of which inevitably falls upon the Exchequer?
§ Sir J. SimonI am afraid that I could not adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. The hon. Member will appreciate that the whole increase of cost of coal production must necessarily be much greater than that part of it which ultimately finds its way into the cost of munitions.