§ Mr. CAPEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any complaints regarding the shortage of supplies of household coal in the Cleveland district; whether he is aware that recently the supply and quality of the coal in this district has been reduced, although there is evidence of large stocks of coal at many pits in the county of Durham; and whether he will take action to secure adequate supplies?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANComplaints have been received from the Cleveland district. The shortage of household coal in certain areas is not the result of shortage of coal at the pits but of difficulties of transport.
§ Mr. WATERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the principle of the datum period as it affects retailers of coal is unsatisfactory; can he state when such is to be abolished; and, if not, is he prepared to arrange for retailers to have supplies according to the number of consumers that are now registered with them?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANEvery effort is being made to adjust the allocation of coal supplies to merchants so that they may be in a position to meet the needs of the consumers registered with them.
IMPORTS OF ARTICLES OK FOOD AND DRINK INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM ASIATIC TURKEY IN THE YEARS 1913 AND 1919. Description. 1913. 1919. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Corn, Grain, &c.: Cwts. £ Cwts. £ Barley … 2,232,300 891,953 — — Other kinds … 139,390 44,733 48,470 57,921 Fruit, liable to Duty: Currants … 412 619 3,662 9,773 Figs … 145,737 211,266 59,400 231,773 Raisins … 439,183 747,876 484,029 2,452,316 Fruit, not liable to Duty: Dates, dried … 497,074 292,944 701,079 1,119,971 Nuts … 12,990 46,203 1,597 9,956 Oranges … 520,040 258,953 22,712 38,743 Sugar—Refined and Unrefined … — — 37,008 131,959 All other articles of Food and Drink … — 68,185 — 89,887 Total … — 2,562,732 — 4,142,302