§ Mr. SITCHasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that applications made at a certain pit and wharf in the Brierley Hill, Staffordshire, area, by local dealers, for coal at the recently reduced price have been declined owing to the absence of instructions from the owners to release the same, notwithstanding representations from the local fuel controller; that the dealers were advised to purchase at the previous cost and sell at the reduced price on the understanding that application for subsequent refund of the difference would be made, a course which they declined to adopt; and whether he will call for an explanation from the owners as to the reason for the failure to instruct their officers to release coal at prevailing reduced prices immediately they became operative?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI am not aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member directs attention, but I am having inquiries made at once.