§ Mr. GOULDasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the announcement contained in the Press of 16th February that a definitely agreed programme has been arranged by the Coal Owners' Association to lock out the miners at a given date in order to force a reduction of wages; if he is aware that the statement in the Press is stated as being confirmed by personal inspection of documentary evidence; and if, in the event of the statement being incorrect, he will state what steps will be taken to prevent the publication of information calculated to disturb the industrial and political security of the country?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have seen the announcement referred to; I have not seen the documentary evidence on which it purports to be based, but I am informed that the announcement is absolutely 589W without foundation. I fully agree that it is deplorable that statements of this sort should be published, but I am afraid it is not within my power to prevent it.
§ Mr. HOLMESasked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he proposes to decontrol the coal industry, so far as the pooling of profits is concerned; how much money at present stands to the credit of the pool; whether present demands upon it are likely to quickly absorb the amount remaining; and whether there is any possibility that it will become necessary to ask the House to effect a subsidy for the benefit of the coal industry?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe aggregated profits of the coal mining industry (after deduction of owners' standard profits and certain statutory charges) are estimated to have slightly exceeded £20,000,000 for the period 1st April, 1919, to 30th September, 1920. It is impossible to give a later estimate until the returns for the last quarter of last year have been examined and collated. It is certainly true that any credit balance that remains is being rapidly diminished by the present depression in the industry. As regards the question of financial decontrol, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave this afternoon to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall).
§ Mr. SWANasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of coal mines in Britain that have been closed since the application of the indemnity and the number on notice to stop; and what are the numbers now out of work and those working short time due to the same?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIf my hon. Friend will be good enough to let me know what he means by the words "since the application of the indemnity," I shall be glad to consider whether I can obtain the information he requires. I cannot give any figures of the number of colliery workers now out of work or working short time, but the average time lost through trade depression over the whole industry was 85 of a day for the week ended 5th February, which is the latest available figure.