HC Deb 13 May 1901 vol 93 cc1481-2
*MR. D. A. THOMAS

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the time that has elapsed since the last official inquiry into the coal resources of the United Kingdom, and the criticism recently passed by Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the conclusion of the Royal Commission of 1866 in regard to the probable export of coal, and his statement that the relative rise in the price of British coal as compared with that of the United States might be due to the approaching exhaustion of our more cheaply-worked supplies, he is now prepared to consider the advisability of a fresh inquiry.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)

The question raised by the hon. Member is one of very great interest, but before deciding that any public object is to be gained by having a commission of inquiry into the actual amount and probable duration of our coal supplies, I think it will be well to await the investigation now being made by the Geological Survey at South Kensington, who have at their disposal a considerable amount of material which throws light, or might throw light, on the subject.

*MR. D. A. THOMAS

Is it not the case that the conclusions arrived at by the Commission with regard to geological matters still hold? But where the Commission has proved to have gone entirely wrong is on the commercial side—on the demand on our coal reserves.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

was understood to say that we could not control the laws of supply and demand.

*MR. D. A. THOMAS

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in order to allay all apprehension as to the early exhaustion of the reserves of coal in the United Kingdom suitable for naval purposes, the Government will consider the advisability of purchasing the minerals under a sufficient area of the South Wales coalfield producing smokeless steam coal to supply the Navy during the present century, seeing that enough coal royalties could be so purchased for about one million sterling to meet the requirements of the British Navy, at its present rate of consumption, for the next couple of centuries.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I cannot see how any purchase by the Government of a supply of steam coal in South Wales could prolong the amount of that supply for the use of the Royal Navy unless it diminished the amount of the exports or the employment of the coal for other purposes. I do not suppose that is what the hon. Member desires or would approve of.

*MR. D. A. THOMAS

If the Government secure for themselves alone a certain quantity, would that not be reserved to them?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

That would be so; but the result would be a diminished output, which is what the hon. Gentleman and those for whom he speaks object to.

*MR. D. A. THOMAS

Oh, no; I want to reserve it for the British Navy.