asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the amount per ton of the recent increase in coal prices in Great Britain, and (b) the amount per ton of the increase in price sought by the merchants in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Prices.
The National Coal Board in Britain increased, as from the 1st June, 1956, the f.o.b. price of best household coal exported to this country by 27/- per ton.
Coal merchants in Dublin and other areas have applied for permission to increase the maximum retail price of best household coal by amounts varying from 27/6 per ton in one provincial area to £2 8s. 6d. per ton in Dublin. The applications from merchants in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Drogheda, Dundalk and Sligo will be examined by the Prices Advisory Body at a public inquiry in Dublin on the 8th June, 1956. Applications from merchants in other provincial areas will also be examined by the Prices Advisory Body, who will make a report to me.
Can the Minister state what is the differential which still exists in the prices charged by the British Coal Board in respect of coal sold here and in respect of coal sold in England?
I would require notice of that question but the Deputy will understand that there are so many varieties of coal coming from different coalfields and qualities within the coal-fields that it is not easy to make a comparison. If the Deputy will put down a question, I will endeavour to get the information for him. The British attitude towards coal prices is that they want to get for any coal they export here or elsewhere whatever they consider to be the price that coal would fetch on the world market.