§ Mr. MACKINDER(by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now give any estimates of the output of coal for the twelve months following the shortening of the working- hour day on the 16th July next; of the extent to which it may be possible to increase the limited quantities of coal now available for export; and of the deficiency of the working of the industry during the same period?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Auckland Geddes)I have gone carefully into this matter with the Controller of Coal Mines, and I regret to have to inform the House that the coal position is serious. So far as it is possible to judge after taking into account the latest information available, the estimated output of coal for twelve months from July, 1919, after the reduced hours have come into force is between 214,000,000 and 217,000,000 tons per annum. This compares with a pre-war output in the year 1913 of 287,000,000 tons. The consumption of coal for inland purposes and bunkers, which was for the year 1913 210,000,000 tons, had fallen to 196,000,000 tons for the year 1918.
The exports of coal in the year 1913 were 77,000.000 tons, and in the year 1918 34,000,000 tons. In order to preserve, approximately, the same quantity of coal for inland consumption and bunkers for twelve months from July, 1919, all present restrictions on consumption must be fully maintained, and, in addition, exports must be reduced from a rate of 34,000,000 tons per annum to a rate of 23,000,000 tons per annum. It is estimated that the deficiency on the working of the industry on the basis of the estimated outputs given for the period of twelve months from July next, after providing for the guaranteed profits to owners at the rate of 1s. 2d. per 2017 ton, will be about £46,600,000, equal to 4s. 3d. per ton of output. It will be recognised that this means either an increase of price to the consumer of about 4s. 6d. per ton (to provide a small margin), or that the deficiency will fall on the taxpayer.
With regard to the future of rationing, although the quantity of coal available for inland consumption and bunkers will be no more than in 1918, the Controller of Coal Mines hopes to introduce modifications in the present system to the extent that all consumers of below 5 tons per annum of coal, 12,500 cubic ft. of gas per quarter, and 400 B.T.U. per quarter of electricity will be exempt from rationing. It is proposed that above these limits the present assessments shall continue in force for another twelve months from 1st July, and that consumers will be allowed between 1st July and 30th September to stock up to their present assessments so far as the coal may be available. It is also under consideration to modify to some extent the present transport reorganisation scheme with a view to giving it greater elasticity.
§ Colonel YATEIs the rationed coal allowance to the miners themselves under or over the 5-ton limit?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI shall require notice of that question.