§ Mr. SITCHasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the fact that difficulty has been experienced by poor persons in a certain district of Birmingham in securing house coal from local dealers, who allege the difficulty to be due to the fact that they are obliged to keep two weeks' supplies in stock, and that they are only receiving to per cent, of their necessary requirements; whether he is aware that a dealer in Blue Street in that, city was recently convicted and fined £3 18s. for supplying a few customers in a poor neighbourhood with 2 cwts. each per week from his reserve stock, which he was unable to replenish from a consignment of coal on its way to his wharf in his own barge; and whether he can see his way to cause inquiries to be made into the whole question of supplies in that district?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am having inquiries made, and will inform the hon. Member of the result.