asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce by whom the application, on behalf of the Limerick merchants, for an increase in the price of coal in Limerick was dealt with at the inquiry of the Prices Advisory Body; when the increase became operative; whether he is aware that a big firm of coal suppliers in Limerick City sought to charge the increased price on 15th June, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Coal Prices.
The Limerick coal merchants were not represented at the public inquiry into coal prices held by the Prices Advisory Body on the 8th June, 1956.
The price increases authorised in the case of Dublin and provincial centres, in accordance with the recommendation of the Prices Advisory Body, were announced on the evening of the 13th June, 1956, and in the morning papers of the following day. As soon as that announcement was made, coal merchants in the areas concerned were at liberty to charge the new prices for any coal on which they had paid the price increase imposed by the British National Coal Board from the 1st June, 1956.
The date from which the new price was charged by individual merchants depended on when their stocks of coal bought at the old price became exhausted. The coal merchants in Limerick City gave me an undertaking that any coal purchased by them at the old price would be sold by them at a figure not exceeding their former retail price of £9 14s. per ton.