§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Home Secretary when the Committee appointed to deal with the question of the 213W output of coal and the organisation of the coal industry during the War will issue its Report; and whether the Committee has taken evidence in regard to the coal industry in Scotland?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed that the Committee, which is holding constant meetings, hopes to present its Report in a few weeks' time. It has taken and is taking evidence in regard to the industry in Scotland.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the particulars regarding the output of coal contained in the returns received by the Board of Trade from the colliery owners and coal merchants throughout the country; and if he can state what was the output of coal during each month since the outbreak of war as compared with the output for the corresponding month of the previous year, or, if the figures cannot be given for each month, for the period since the outbreak of war as compared I with the corresponding period during the previous year?
Mr. RUNCIMANIt is proposed to include in the forthcoming volume of evidence taken by the Committee on Retail Coal Prices a general summary of the particulars ascertained by the Board of Trade with regard to the output of coal in February, and similar summaries will be prepared and published for later months. For February and March the approximate total output was as follows:—
— 1915. 1914. Decrease in 1915. Tons. Tons. Tons. Per cent. February … … 20,700,000 28,500,000 2,800,000 11.9 March … … 23,000,000 25,800,000 2,800,000 10.8 These figures include estimates in respect of the output at a few collieries for which returns have not come to hand.