§ 21. Sir Harold Roperasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, having regard to the fact that the cost of freight included in the retail price of coal in Cornwall is 34s. a ton, he will consider reducing such freight content to such level as would be chargeable if the coal was supplied from South Wales instead of from Newcastle.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI regret that the principle proposed by the hon. Member would, in practice, be both unworkable and inequitable.
§ Sir H. RoperCould the Minister tell us the amount of difference involved? Does he think it fair that the consumer in Cornwall should pay a higher price for his coal when he is prevented from getting it from a cheaper source by the creation by the Government of a monopoly of the coal industry?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerCoal has always come to Cornwall from the north-east coast.
§ Sir H. RoperNot from Wales?
§ Mr. Donglas MarshallWhat was the proportion of this freight carried by sea and by rail in 1938; and what is the proportion now carried by British Railways?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI should like notice of that question.
27. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why coal is sold at a higher cost in the south than in the Midlands.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to his Question on uniform prices on 8th May last. If the price of coal, of comparable quality, is higher in one place than in another, it is due, in the main, to the greater costs of transport and distribution; these costs vary with the method of transport, the distance from the coalfield and other factors affecting local distribution.
Brigadier ClarkeI presume that the Minister knows that transport is nationalised. If so, will he say whether he is selling American and other imported coal at a higher price at the ports than in the Midlands, or is it the same price in both areas?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerImported coal will be sold at the same price as British coal.
§ Mr. James HudsonWill my right hon. Friend advise the hon. and gallant Gentleman to study the map of England so that he can better understand where the coalfields lie?