asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Associations of Coal Owners in Monmouthshire, South Wales, and the Forest of Dean have directed that the freight rebates on all coal are to be retained by the colliery companies; and what steps it is proposed to take to secure to the iron and steel and other industries the relief intended to accrue to them from the rebate on freights?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question asked on the 12th December by the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Sir W. Preston), of which I am sending him a copy.

I have seen the answer which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has already given to the question, but will he please state why it was that the President of the Board of Trade during the discussion of this Bill made it clear that the freight rebate to the companies would be carried over to the iron and steel industries and to other industries using coal?

The President of the Board of Trade always stated that the reduction in freight must go to those who paid the freights.