§ 15. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can explain why the schedule price of coal for export from South Wales to Argentina for the use of British-owned railways in that country should be for Monmouthshire coal, 51s. per ton, and the actual selling price to-day should be 70s. per ton, Cardiff coal 80s. per ton; whether these prices are named by the collieries, at the instance or instigation of the Coal Controller that they should get as much as they can over the minimum prices; whether these prices are killing the export trade in coal, resulting in grave national loss, and driving consumers in South America to purchase American coal, which can be purchased f.o.b. at 25s. per ton or less; and can he state what price the Admralty is at present paying for Cardiff coal?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe current export prices are those established in the open market in the ordinary way, and the fact that consumers in South America are driven to purchase American coal is duo to the very restricted amount of coal 1879 which can be released for export, the total quantity available for South America being only about one-seventh of the prewar quantity. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty.
§ Mr. HOUSTONSeeing that the higher prices of coal in South Wales is killing our export trade, can the right hon. Gentleman say why the Government does not control these prices, and will he state whether it is the fact that the Government are profiteering in coal in the same manner as they did in food, shipping freights, and shipping tonnage?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI do not think the Government is profiteering in coal. The Government has been making up a loss. I do not know whether the hon. Member would call that profiteering. The position is this, that such profits as there are on the export of coal are going in relief of the cost of domestically-consumed coal.
§ Mr. HOUSTONDoes the right hon. Gentleman not see that he is killing the export trade of the country, upon which this country depends for its existence?
§ Sir A. GEDDESIt is not I who am killing the export trade.