§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Secretary for Mines whether the American Shipping Board made a contract with the South Wales coal owners to supply them with 500,000 tons of coal; whether the Welsh coal has been increased by 2s. per ton 695W in consequence; and whether the Welsh coal and iron shares have appreciably advanced in consequence of the contract made?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is true that orders from America have led to an increase in the price of certain classes of coal and to an appreciation of certain colliery shares, but I have no knowledge of any contract entered into by the American Shipping Board, nor, so far as my information goes, do the orders from America placed up to the present in South Wales amount to anything like the figure stated.