§ 64. Sir JOSEPH WALTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many collieries have recently worked short time; and whether, in view of the need for an increased output of coal, he will arrange to issue shipment licences more freely, and to stock coals at munition works and gas works, to enable pits to work full time in future?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe loss of output to which my hon. Friend refers has been due not to the restriction of export licences but to difficulties in connection with the supply of tonnage. Steps have been taken by the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Munitions both directly and through certain of the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committees to call the attention of consumers to the importance of taking advantage of the opportunity to increase their stocks.