Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Oversea Trade Department whether he is aware that, in the case of many collieries in Durham, there will be no increase in costs to warrant an extra 6s. per ton on the price of coal, and that if these collieries were allowed to sell at the old price, which would still leave them a profit, to the iron and steel works in that district, a large part of the export trade in iron and steel commodities could be retained which will be lost if the extra price of 6s. per tort for coal has to be paid by these works?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe amount of 6s. per ton is an average for the country as a whole, and if no increase, were made in the price of coal in Durham it would be necessary to make a correspondingly greater increase in other parts of the country.