§ 55. Mr. PERKINSasked the Minister of Munitions if he will give the names of the Committee controlling the export of splint coal from Scotland; whether he can state how many members of the Committee represent the interests of coal producers and exporters and how many represent the interests of ironmasters; what is the difference between the price obtained for splint coal sold to local ironmasters and the price obtained for the same coal when exported; and whether, in view of the acknowledged shortage of the supplies of splint coal to the Scottish blast furnaces, he will forthwith prohibit the issue of any more licences to export?
Mr. RUNCIMANMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The control of the export of coal from the United Kingdom is in the hands of the Coal Exports Committee, which is not representative of particular interests. The Committee has regard to any recommendations made by the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committees which were recently appointed by the Board of Trade with a view to ensuring adequate supplies of fuel to important consumers. The District Committee for Scotland, which consists of representatives of the coal industry, recently recommended that in view of the difficulty they were experiencing in connection with the supply of splint coal to blast furnaces exports of this fuel should be curtailed, and action has been taken by the Coal Exports Committee in this direction.