Captain COOTEasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost of the Coal Controller's Department for the current financial year?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe cost of the Coal Controller's Department for the first six months of the current financial year was £517,253, which included an amount of £400,000 towards the expenses of local authorities incurred in respect of the financial year 1918–19 in the administration of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1918. The estimate for the remaining half of this financial year is £451,230, which included £300,000 contribution to local authorities in respect of the whole of this financial year for the administration of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919. It is hoped that, as the scope of the Department is becoming more definitely determined, it may be possible to make considerable reduction in the administrative expenditure.