I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together.
Importers are not obliged to notify me in advance of price increases unless they propose to increase the margin of profit they take. Coal importers did in fact give me advance notice of price increases due to devaluation and on the basis that they were not increasing their margins of profit I raised no objection.
It appears that coal importers held stocks, sufficient for one to two weeks' requirements, of American, German and Belgian coal at the time they gave me advance notice of their proposal. These were the coals they proposed to increase in price. It also appears that where these stocks were paid for before devaluation they are being sold at predevaluation prices; where they were not paid for they must now be paid for at the new rate of exchange, making a price increase necessary.
I should say that the price of Polish coal, which is largely used, has not been increased.