§ 18. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Paymaster-General by how much the price of industrial fuel oil had increased, per gallon between 1947 and the recent ending of rationing; how much the price of domestic coke has increased per hundredweight since 1947; and if, by way of comparison, he will express these price increases on a percentage basis.
§ Mr. MaudlingIndustrial fuel oil by 5¼d. per gallon, or 65 per cent. Wholesale, and domestic coke by 5s. 6d. a cwt., or 130 per cent. retail.
§ Mr. RidsdaleDoes not this illustrate how costs in the coal industry have gone up compared with other prices? Is it not a fact that costs in the coal industry have gone up by five times compared with the industry's pre-war costs? Is not this the largest increase of any industry? Surely the coal industry should try to absorb these increased costs, as have agriculture and other industries.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe fact is that, on the average, the retail price of coal has risen since 1947 by over 100 per cent., which must be one of the highest items in the Cost of Living Index.