§ 100. Mr. MYERSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Customs authorities in Glasgow are holding up a vessel laden with coal for the Sligo Gas Company; that, as all the principal industries in Sligo are dependent upon gas power and the gas company have now only three days' supply, any further delay in releasing this vessel will have a serious effect; and whether he will have immediate inquiries made into the matter.
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Bridgeman)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Upon the advice of the Government Departments charged with regulating the supply and distribution of coal in the present emergency clearance has been refused to the collier s.s. "Girasol" at Glasgow, loaded with coal for the Sligo Gas Company, in view of the probability of more urgent needs arising elsewhere in the immediate future. The information in the hands of the Mines Department shows that at the commencement of the present emergency the Sligo Gas Company had sufficient coal in stock to last until about the beginning of this week. Through the intervention of the Mines Department the company has since had a further supply of 100 tons which, if consumption be restricted as in Great Britain, should last another week and a half or two weeks. It is further understood that in the Sligo district the stocks of the coal merchants average about three weeks' supply at the normal rate of consumption and it should be possible for arrangements to be made locally for some of this coal to be used by the gas company. The matter will be kept under consideration.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it would be better to come to an understanding with the Miners' Federation and have this question settled?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt would be very satisfactory if we could do so.
§ Mr. THORNEWhy do you not do it?