§ 55. Mr. TAYLORasked the Secretary for Mines how many tons of coal were imported from Germany into Britain since the beginning of the coal stoppage to the latest convenient date; and what was the average price?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Colonel Lane Fox)I understand from the Board of Customs that from the beginning of the stoppage until the end of November, 6,522,322 tons of coal were registered as imported and consigned from Germany, and that the average c.i.f. value declared was £2 1s. 8d. per ton.
§ 56. Mr. TAYLORasked the Secretary for Mines how much coal has been bought during the coal dispute from Germany under the authority of the recent Supplementary Estimate of the Board of Trade; and the average price paid per ton?
§ Colonel LANE FOX26,000 tons of German coal was bought by the Government at an average f.o.b. price of 30s. per ton. In addition, some part of the coal bought in Upper Silesia doubtless came from German pits. The total quantity bought by the Government in Upper Silesia was 600,000 tons at an everage f.o.b. price of 33s. 6d.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the price paid in Upper Silesia is approximately twice as much as the average price paid for British exported coal in 1925?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, because I do not know what the average price of British exported coal was.
§ Mr. TAYLORCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government have any further developments of the "Buy British Goods" campaign under consideration?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, not now that the miners have been allowed to go back to work.
§ Mr. HARRISCan the right hon. Gentleman say how much of the coal came in the form of briquettes marked "Kaiser"?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo.
§ Mr. W. THORNECan the right hon. Gentleman say from memory at what price the Government have sold this foreign coal per ton?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, I could not possibly say that. We sold it at different prices.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman explain why the Government particularly went to Upper Silesia, where the miners are working an eight-hours day, to make their purchases?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThe Government went where the coal was available.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman tell the House why, in this district where the hours are longest, the price is double the price of the exported coal from Britain?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSDid the right hoe. Gentleman's statement refer to c.i.f. prices or prices in Silesia?
§ Colonel LANE FOXTo f.o.b. prices.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSDid the Government make any profit?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThe Government did what they said they were out to do. They covered their losses, but they did not set out to make a profit.
§ Mr. TAYLORWas there an increase in freightage rates?
§ Colonel LANE FOXYes, the freightage rates went up very considerably.
§ 57. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that the steamer "Giovanni Flores" arrived at Plymouth on Wednesday, 8th December, with 8,000 tons of American coal; whether this coal has been purchased by the Government; and, if so, what was the selling price of same?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Bridgeman)I have been asked to reply. The cargo referred to was purchased by the Admiralty for dockyard purposes and has not been re-sold.