§ 6. Mr. Morleyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the price of a ton of domestic coal at Durham City, York, Manchester, Cardiff and Southampton, respectively.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI will, with permission, circulate the figures in the Official Report.
§ Mr. MorleyDo not the figures show that the price of coal is much higher in the South of England than in the Midlands and the North, and does not that mean that the old age pension is worth less in the South than it is in the Midlands and the North during the winter? What practical objection is there to allowing old age pensioners in the South to have coal at a lower price?
§ Mr. LloydAlthough I am not in favour of maintaining something simply because it has existed a long time, this basis, of course, has existed since the beginning of the working of coal in this country. In addition, a great part of heavy industry has been located on this basis.
§ Following are the figures:
§ The maximum retail prices in each town vary according to quality, but prices of Group 4 coals, which are of average quality, are at present as follow:
| Per | Ton | |
| s. | d. | |
| Durham City | 92 | 4 |
| York | 106 | 5 |
| Manchester | 106 | 9 |
| Cardiff | 105 | 3 |
| Southampton | 130 | 8 |
§ Except in Southampton, these prices include the winter additions under the summer/winter prices scheme. The winter addition of 5s. per ton will be effective in Southampton on 1st December.