Major BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade if the retail price of coal in Newcastle-on-Tyne is fixed; if so, by whom and by what calculation it is determined; and if he will say whether an addition of Is. 6d. per ton was permitted in consequence of the railway strike?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe retail price of coal in Newcastle-on-Tyne is fixed by the local authority, and is based upon the cost price of coal to the merchant and the actual cost of handling and delivering the coal. The recent addition of 1s. 6d. per ton coal delivered in Newcastle was necessitated mainly by the increased cost of carting.