§ Captain BRISCOEasked the Secretary for Mines what is the position of the coal distributors in relation to the coal-selling schemes that will be operative from 1st August next?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKIn certain controlled selling schemes, in order to ensure the observance of conditions under which permits for the sale of coal are issued, provisions are included under which conditions of re-sale can be prescribed and a Register of approved distributors can be prepared by the Executive Board of coalowners. In these cases I have asked for and received from the respective Executive Boards assurances that should the clauses in question be put into operation—
- (1) Any general conditions of re-sale applicable to the district as a whole and affecting the distributive trade connected with that district will be agreed in consultation with representatives of the distributors and failing such agreement, the matter should be settled by arbitration, outside the provisions of the statutory scheme, and
- (2) there will also be a right of arbitration, outside the provisions of the statutory scheme in connection with inclusion in or exclusion from approved lists of distributors.
The districts affected are—
1870W
- Midland (Amalgamated) District.
- Northumberland.
- Durham.
- Cannock.
- Warwickshire.
- South Wales.
- Bristol.
- Cumberland.
- Somerset.
I would add that a coal distributor equally with any other person who has a complaint against the operation of a Scheme and no statutory right of arbitration has the right of access to the Committees of Investigation.