§ Mr. PERRINGasked the Secretary for Mines what commission was paid on the Government purchase of £6,000,000 worth of coal for public services referred to in White Paper Cd. 129; did the Government receive any concession by reason of limiting their purchases to four privileged firms in respect of commission; is he aware that firms outside the privileged firms buy at their own risk, but must tender through the privileged firms who are their competitors, whereas the four Government buyers take no risk, but buy to Government orders, thereby limiting competition; and has he fully considered, in the interests of economy, the advantages of greater competition?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI do not think it would be in the public interest at the present stage to publish details of the arrangements made for the purchase of foreign coal. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative; there was no question either of concession or of privilege. As regards the last part of the question, competition is is no way limited. Any firm is at liberty to buy and sell in the open market, and firms other than the Government agents are, in fact, selling foreign coal independently of any Government transactions.