§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the suggested increased price of coal will permit competition in this country by imported American coal; and what steps in that case he proposes to take?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe pit mouth price of coal in America is reported to be 11s. 2d. against an average of 29s. 3½d. for Great Britain. It must be obvious, therefore, that a considerable reduction in freight would have to take place to enable American coal to compete with British coal in Britain. At present I do not propose to take any action.