Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the subsidy from the taxpayer in respect of the freight rate of sea-borne coal has now ceased; whether the freight rate of seaborne and rail-borne coal is to be left to find an economic level; and whether the order of the Coal Controller compelling consumers in the South of England to make use of sea-borne coal of unsuitable quality and at an excessive price has now been rescinded?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe arrangements which were made for compensating merchants who were obliged to take emergency supplies of sea-borne house coal which had to be sold at the retail prices fixed for the rail-borne coal were only of a temporary character and are not now in operation. All coal bears the full amount of the sea freight or the railway rate according to the method of transport. In view of the shortage of coal in the Midlands it has not yet been possible to withdraw the instructions which require the use of sea-borne coal by certain consumers in the South of England.