§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he has yet heard from Her Majesty's Consuls on the Rhine as to the reported establishment, with the aid of the German Government, of an export service to London of West-phalian coal at 6s. a ton in flat-bottomed sea barges carrying some 700 tons each, and making the cross-channel passages as the weather permits?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonI have received Reports from Her Majesty's Consuls at Berlin and Dusseldorf, which I shall be happy to show to the hon. Member, but it does not appear from these Reports that any State-aided exportation of coal from Westphalia is likely to be established, nor is it probable that 700-ton barges could be employed in this traffic on the Rhine.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTThe right hon. Gentleman has dwelt upon the phrase "State-aided"; can he say whether there is any exportation of coal from Germany to London, State-aided or otherwise?
§ MR. RITCHIEI believe that it is the fact that a limited liability company has been established for the purpose of exporting coal from Germany to London, out it is not State-aided.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rates on the State railways have not been reduced in favour of this company to an extent that is equivalent to State aid?
§ MR. RITCHIEI have already offered to give the hon. and gallant Gentleman all the information on the subject which we have received from Germany.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware whether preferential rates are offered on the German State lines of railway?
§ MR. RITCHIEI will inquire, if we have not already got the information. I am not quite certain of the fact, but I think that preferential rates are granted on those lines.