§ 32. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal has been imported to date this year, and at what cost in dollars and otherwise and of the total proposed imports of 12 million 1022 tons of coal this year at an aggregate cost of approximately £80 million, how much will be paid for in dollars and how much otherwise.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydFour and a half million tons up to the end of May, at a landed cost of £27½ million, of which nearly £5 million was payable in dollars. It is not yet possible to estimate the dollar cost of imports in the full year, but a substantial part of our requirements will have to be obtained from the United States.
§ Mr. NabarroIs it not a fact that the accumulated deficit of the National Coal Board to 31st March last will be added to now by 12 million tons, all of which is sold at a loss of £2 per ton?. In view of this very large deficit in sight, would it not be advisable to warn all concerned that coal is likely to rise in price by about 10s. a ton?
§ Mr. StokesIs it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman could get out of this difficulty of importing dollar coal if he really set to and tackled the oil monopoly? He would get the price down by at least 40 per cent., from £10 a ton to £6 a ton, and it then would not be necessary to import coal at all.