§ Sir JOHN SPEARasked the President of the Board of Trade if, having regard to the action of the Board under the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, 1915, he is aware that, in making the recent advance of 2s. 6d. per ton in the standard amount sanctioned by the Board for South Wales retrospective, he is causing the existence of uncertainty amongst coal merchants and thereby contributing to an increase of the price of coal to the consumer; and will he arrange that any future necessary alterations of the standard in this and other companies shall not be retrospective?
Mr. HARCOURTIn fixing the date on which any Order under Section 1 (2) of the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act takes effect it is necessary to consider the date of the increase of costs in respect of which it is made; but where, as in the South Wales case, the Order is dated back, the Board would recommend that the increased price should not be charged on past deliveries where the purchaser has sold the coal and cannot recover.
1886W
§ Sir A. MONDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the public opinion in South Wales against the permission granted to the coalowners of South Wales and Monmouthshire to increase the price of coal beyond the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act; and whether he can state the reasons for granting this permission?
Mr. HARCOURTAs I have stated in reply to previous questions on this subject, the increase of 2s. 6d. in the maximum pit-head price in South Wales of coal sold for home consumption was granted in respect of an average increase in working costs of 2s. 6d. a ton.