Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will inquire into the reasons for the rise in the price of coal amounting, in the case of the contract prices tendered to some London boroughs, of 25 per cent., or 6s. 6d. per ton; and will he make a statement?
§ Captain CrookshankThe Woolwich Borough Council have informed me that owing to the operation of the coal selling schemes, their contract prices for coal are likely to show an increase of about 6s. 6d. per ton and a number of local authorities in London and elsewhere have made similar representations. If these authorities consider that the increases are unfair, inequitable or contrary to the public interest, they should complain to the appropriate Committee of Investigation, which is the statutory body to inquire into the reasons for the increases.