§ Mr. McKEAGasked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that a Northumberland colliery owner has offered to purchase any quantity up to 11,000 tons of coal quota, at 3s. per ton, from other Northumberland colliery owners who have been allocated more quota than they can produce or sell; and whether, in the light of this further proof of the need for more elasticity in the working of the quota system, he will take immediate steps to this end?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI have not seen an advertisement offering to purchase quota at 3s. per ton, but I have seen one by a Northumberland coalowner offering to purchase at 3d. per ton. I would remind my hon. Friend that provision for the transfer of quota, by sale or otherwise, was included in the Act in order to afford elasticity in the working of the regulation of output.