§ SIR W. JOYNSON-H1CKSasked (1) the Prime Minister whether he has received a petition from the representatives of the whole of the local authorities in the Isle of Wight in reference to the price of coal; whether he is aware that it is proposed that all coal should new be sent to the island by sea and that the price will be advanced to 75s. per ton; and whether nothing can be done in the matter;
(2) the President of the Board of Trade whether the Coal Controller in November, 1917, in reply to a petition from the Isle of Wight, promised to make definite arrangements to send 1,200 tons per week of rail-borne coal to the island, and that the price was to be £2 12s. 6d. per ton; whether he is now insisting upon sending such coal by sea, thus raising the price to £3 15s.; whether the cost of cartage by sea has risen from 4s. in pre-war days to £1 4s. 6d. at the present time; and whether he can take any steps to alleviate this position?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe petition to which the hon. Member refers has been received. It has been necessary, owing 261W to difficulties in regard to the supply and transport of coal from the Midlands, to arrange that coal supplies for the Isle of Wight shall again be transported by sea, as was the case prior to November, 1917, and it is understood that the price will be about 75s. per ton. I would point out, however, that 10s. of the difference between the two prices which the hon. Member quotes is due to increases which have been made in the pit price of all coal since November, 1917. The Shipping Controller is fully aware of the high freights which are now charged for coastwise transport, and has the matter under consideration.