§ 1. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement with regard to the export of coal from the Humber district; whether he is aware of the distress caused by the continued embargo; and is he can state when some share of the coal for export will be allotted to the Humber ports.
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Bridge-man)The Committee referred to in the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member for the S.W. Division of Hull on the 8th June sat at Hull on Wednesday and Thursday, the 23rd and 24th June, and received deputations during those two days from all the interests affected. The Committee are now considering the question in the light of the statements made by the various deputations; and they will report as soon as practicable. I am unable to anticipate the contents of their Report.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan the hon. Gentleman say when the Committee expects to report, and when he expects to come to some decision of this urgent matter?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am afraid I do not know.
14. Captain TUDOR-REESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Joint Committee of the Cardiff branches of the National Union of Railwaymen, representing 6,000 railwaymen, have passed a resolution protesting against the Order restricting the export of coal, and putting on record that in their opinion the restrictions will prove disastrous to trade and cause widespread unemployment; whether he is aware that in consequence of the Order hundreds of ships are lying idle in the Bristol Channel for lack of cargoes; that thousands of trucks are standing full of coal in the South Wales area and elsewhere; and that the Order is most seriously affecting the export trade; and whether he can now consider the revocation of it?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMy attention has been called to the resolution mentioned. As I informed the hon. and gallant Member on the 16th June, the Government policy concerning the export of coal was adopted after careful consideration of all the circumstances, and no alteration in that policy can be agreed to at present. I am informed that in the last three weeks the number of shifts per week lost in the South Wales coalfield from all causes is very considerably less than the average number of shifts lost per week during recent months when exports were much higher. This goes to show the present arrangement has worked satisfactorily.
Captain TUDOR-REESWhat results are intended to be secured by curtailing the export of coal to foreign countries?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe result intended to he secured is that the home market will be supplied with all the coal we want before we allow any more to be exported.
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Robert Horne)I am not aware of that.
§ Major MORGANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Swansea district and Cardiff they have refused to handle this coal because their storage is more than full and wagons to the extent of 20,000 tons have been waiting since last Friday for cartage in the Cardiff district?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am not aware whether those statements are correct, but we are watching the whole position.
§ Major MORGANHas the hon. Gentleman made any inquiries with regard to Swansea?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANYes, and it is owing to those inquiries that I have been able to say that there are less men out of work than usual.