asked the Secretary for Mines if, taking into consideration the extremely low wages of the miners, the inability of the mine owners to make any profits, the railway claim to moderation in fixing coal freights which have not changed within the last few weeks, and the assertion of the merchant that his profit per ton of coal sold is only a few pence, he can inform the House how the reduction of 9s. per ton in London in the prices of best house coal is being effected and at whose expense?

The figures which I gave to the House in reply to my hon. Friend's question on 29th May were, as I then stated, figures supplied to me by the Coal Merchants' Federation. The price of coal is not a matter which is within the control of my Department, but I am asking the Federation if they can supply any further information as to the reduction recently announced.