HC Deb 23 February 1920 vol 125 cc1455-6

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—[Sir It. Sanders.]

Captain REDMOND

I desire to call the attention of the House and, incidentally, the Ministry responsible, the Board of Trade, to the inadequacy of the coal supply in Ireland. Several questions have been addressed to the Board of Trade on this subject during the last few weeks, but unfortunately though promises have been made practically nothing has been done to alleviate the state of affairs there. Both in quality and in quantity, the coal supply at present in Ireland is utterly inadequate. The matter is of the utmost urgency because it affects all classes and sections of the community. It affects Dublin and Belfast, and the worst sufferers probably are the remote country districts. The outlook from the point of view of Irish industries and also from the point of view of the Irish householder is extremely serious, and some Irish railways even have not, I believe, more than a week's coal supply.

Notice taken that 40 Members were not present: House counted, and 40 Member not being present,

The House was adjourned at a quarter after Eleven o'clock till to-morrow.