§ Mr. FOREMANasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will inform the 591W House what is the approximate daily output of the coal mines of the country which are still being worked and what is the approximate daily consumption; and whether there exists any kind of reserve of coal upon which, in case of an emergency, national undertakings as well as public utilities can count for temporary supplies?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is impossible to give daily figures in the present disturbed conditions. The output for the week ended the 26th July was only slightly over 2,500,000 tons, this representing a reduction of nearly 50 per cent. on the average weekly figure for the period preceding the 16th July. The reply to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.