§ Mr. J. MURRAYasked the Secretary for Mines the total amount of coal delivered to coal miners during 1919, and during the first six months of 1920, for their own use free or at special prices; the total amount of money charged for this coal; and the total sum which this coal would have cost the miners if they had had to pay for it at current market rates?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe total amount of coal delivered to coal miners during 1919 amounted to 6,322,000 tons, of which 2,886,000 tons were supplied free of cost and 3,436,000 tons were supplied at a total cost of £1,360,000. During the first six months of 1920 the amount of coal delivered in the same way was 3,429,000 tons, including 1,532,000 tons supplied free of cost and 1,897,000 tons supplied at a total cost of £782,000. The total sum which miners' coal would have cost if it had been paid for at current market rates cannot be stated precisely, but it is estimated that the advantage to the miners is represented by a sum of more than £8,000,000 per annum at the present time.