§ 33. Mr. GEORGE HALLasked the Secretary for Mines the amount of coal imported into Great Britain since 1st May; the countries from which such coal has been imported; the amount; and the cost in each case?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Colonel Lane Fox)The amount of coal imported between 1st May and 3rd July was 1,102,789 tons. It came from the Continent and the United States. I regret that I am not in a position to give the further details asked for, except in so far as they were given on 28th June, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Doncaster.
§ Mr. BATEYWas all this coal imported by private companies, or has the Government imported any of it?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, I think this is all privately imported.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESDoes the right hon. Gentleman's Department keep figures in order to safeguard any profiteering by coal merchants in the case of domestic coal?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI am not doing anything to interfere with the interests of foreign trade, because it is not necessary.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESDoes the right hon. Gentleman take the view that foreign coal must come in at whatever price is going to be charged to the domestic consumer?