§ Mr. Leckieasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among consumers in the Birmingham and South Staffordshire areas with the greatly increased prices now being charged for coal and slack under the awards of the Cannock and District Board, amounting in some cases to 4s. 3d. 2216W per ton, while forward contracts are being quoted at fully 33⅓ per cent. advance; whether he will inquire and state what respective interests a are represented on the Cannock and District Board; whether there is on it any representative of the consumers; whether any appeals have been lodged against their decision; and whether he will satisfy himself that the miners are getting a full share of the increased prices?
§ Captain CrookshankThe control of prices in the Cannock Chase coalfield under the District Scheme in force under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, is administered by a selling committee representative of the coalowners in the district, with an independent chairman. I am aware that in two cases complaints against these prices have been lodged with the committee of investigation for the district set up under Section 5 of the 1930 Act. There are two representatives of consumers on that committee out of a membership of five. The committee did not endorse either complaint. With regard to the last part of the question, I would point out that under the wages ascertainment arrangements in the district, an agreed proportion of the increases in pithead proceeds accrues to the benefit of the mineworkers.