HC Deb 27 June 1927 vol 208 cc17-8
26. Mr. ERNEST BROWN

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will now make any further statement as to the method of working the licence system under the French embargo scheme affecting imported coal, or whether there is any prospect of the abolition of the scheme?

Mr. A. M. SAMUEL

Our Ambassador has been informed by the French Government that restrictions are now only being applied to coal required for administrative and public services, i.e., Government Departments, railways, gas and electrical works. The amount of reduction effected is 250,000 tons per month and is being applied to coal from all sources. Licences for the importation of coal from this country for the first three months of the operation of the restrictions have now been issued to an amount exceeding 3,000,000 tons. The French Government are not yet in a position to state for how long the restrictions will be maintained.

Mr. BROWN

How recent is the hon. Gentleman's information, and what are all the sources?

Mr. SAMUEL

We received a telegram from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris this morning, therefore the information is up-to-date. What I meant by all sources is this. The reduction referred to in the reply includes coal from German trade sources and, I believe, from German Reparation sources.