§ Mr. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make inquiries as to the number of small holdings in South Wales; whether any applications for small holdings have been refused; and if there is a waiting list of persons desiring to obtain small holdings in South Wales?
Mr. GUINNESSThe following statement gives the information required:
2s. 6d. to 4s. per ton; and whether the London coal merchants have reduced the price of coal by a like amount?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKFrom quotations in the coal trade papers there appears to have been a downward tendency 869W during the past week or two in the pithead prices of certain classes of house coal in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. I have no means of ascertaining in regard to particular pithead reductions the extent to which the benefit is passed to the consumer; but, as the hon. Member is aware, the retail prices of coal in London were reduced on the 24th February by from 3s. to 4s. 6d. per ton.
§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Secretary for Mines what is the pithead price paid for house coal supplied to the London market and the retail price of such coal during the months of December and January, 1925–26, and the same months of 1926–27?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKThe range of retail prices of house coal in Central London during December-January, 1925–26, was from 36s. to 50s. 6d. per ton according to the quality of the coal and the time of delivery. The corresponding range of retail prices between 11th December, 1926, and the end of January, 1927, was from 47s. to 62s. I cannot say what pithead prices were paid for the coals so sold, but I am informed by representatives of the London coal merchants that they were from 7s. to 15s. higher in the latter period than in the former.