§ 92. Mr. CAIRNSasked the President of the Board of Trade what the price of German indemnity coal was on 1st March, 1922, in-France, if any, in Italy, if any, in Belgium, if any, and the price of English coal, if any, in the three countries referred to?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Bridgeman)The price of German indemnity coal chargeable to consumers in France, Belgium, and Italy varies appreciably according to quality, and I regret that information is not available which would enable me to give the figures on a strictly comparable basis. In France on 1st March, 1922, the price of through and through coal delivered at the frontier varied from 28s. 2d. to 29s. 10d. per ton, inclusive of Customs duties. In Belgium in January last the price of manufacturing coal at the frontier varied from 17s. 2d. to 19s. per ton. In Italy in the middle of January the price was 29s. 10d. per ton delivered by rail at the frontier, and 35s. per ton delivered by sea. The price of British coal, c.i.f. Genoa, at the end of February ranged from 32s. per ton for slack to 41s. 6d. per ton for Cardiff coal of first quality. The average declared value f.o.b. of through and through British coal exported in February was 21s. per ton to France and 19s 10d. per ton to Belgium, while the 2018 freights from Cardiff and the Tyne to Havre and Antwerp varied from 6s to 8s. 6d. per ton.
§ Mr. CAIRNSDo we send any coal to these places?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot give the figures of what we send, but we certainly send some. If the hon. Member will put down a question, I will give him the information.