§ Mr. FINNEYasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to Resolutions passed by the town council of the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent protesting against the action of the Government in making an increase of Os. per ton on coal, as it is unreasonable and contrary to the Report of the Coal Commission, against the action of the Coal Controller in compelling the purchase of coal for corporation undertakings by indirect methods resulting in an extra expenditure of thousands of pounds per annum, and also protesting against the anomaly created by arrangements made by the Coal Controller whereby coal from distant collieries is sent to Stoke-on-Trent whilst local coal is sent to other parts of the country; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to a satisfactory adjustment of the matters complained of?
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§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. My attention has been called to these Resolutions, but I do not agree that the increase in the price of coal was unnecessary, unreasonable or contrary to the Report of the Coal Commission. Coal has only been occasionally sent from Durham to Stoke-on-Trent to meet emergencies created by insufficient output from local pits. The dispatch of coal from North Stafford was necessary in certain cases in which it was impossible to provide a suitable substitute even though there was a local shortage. I may add the whole question of coal prices is again under consideration.