Colonel THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the feeling that no decision upon coal mines nationalisation should be taken by the Coal Commission until the case for the coal consumers has been fully heard and that well-known public bodies and public men have been refused permission to tender their evidence on this point on the ground that time is too short; whether proposals for safeguarding the interests of coal users are to be heard or considered; whether he is aware that some of the witnesses who have occupied the Commission's time expressed, on their own admission, mere individual opinions; and whether, in order to avoid adverse criticism on the presentation of the Report, he will extend the time of the Commission to 30th June in order to take evidence from consumers' organisations?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have been asked to answer this question. I am aware of the feeling referred to and understand that arrangements have been made to hear evidence on behalf of important consumers of coal (including any proposals that may be put forward to safeguard their interests) before any report upon the principle of nationalisation of mines and minerals is made. I understand that no well-known public bodies or public men have been refused permission to tender evidence on the point referred to for the reason stated, but it is manifest that a certain discretion in the matter of evidence must be exercised. The answer to the penultimate question is in the affirmative, and to the last question, that no further extension of time will be required for this purpose.