§ Mr. LAMBERTasked the Secretary for Mines if he will give the cost of production per ton of coal, specifying wages, stores, royalties, and other costs, for 1923
— August, 1914. August, 1922. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Pit Price 11 6 20 6 Railway Freight: 6 4 9 10 Wagon Hire 1 0 2 0 Other Expenses:— (a) Wages of Loaders and Carmen. 1 10 3 8 (b) Cartage Expenses 1 0¼ 2 10 (c) Sacks 1½ 4 (d) Loss on Small and Deficiencies 4 9 (e) Siding Rent, Weighbridge Charges, Wharf Rent, Demurrage, etc. 1 4 (f) Clerical Salaries 1 3 2 2 (g) Establishment Charges 1 1½ 1 11 5 9¼ 12 0 Total 24 7¼ 44 4 The right hon. Member will, of course, understand that the costs of production given above are average figures for all coal disposed of commercially, but the costs of distribution relate only to a par- 758W and for 1913, also the distribution charges, specifying heads of cost, for a ton of typical coal to a London householder for the years 1923 and 1913, with similar distribution charges for coal used in industry if available?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe average costs of production at the pit head of a ton of coat disposed of commercially were:
— In 1913. In 1923. s. d. s. d. Wages 6 10½ 12 4¼ Timber and Stores 1 11½ 2 2 Other Costs 2 8¼ Royalties 0 6 0 6¼ 9 4 17 8¾ As to the distribution charges of household coal sold in London, I have no later figures than those supplied by the London merchants for the month of August, 1922. Comparative figures for Derby Birghts in 1914 and 1922 are:
titular class of coal in a particular place, namely, "Derby Brights" in Central London. I regret that I have not particulars of the distribution costs of industrial coal.