§ 7. Mr. GARDNERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the amount of coal sent last year from India to Great Britain and the approximate price per ton of coal.
§ Earl WINTERTONAccording to the Indian returns, 49,088 tons of coal were exported to the United Kingdom in 1926. The greater part of this arrived in the first two months of the present year. Only about 44,000 tons in all appear to have arrived here, the balance having presumably been diverted on the way. The declared value at the port of import averaged 59s. per ton.
§ Mr. PALINGWas not the whole of this export due to the abnormal circumstances produced by the coal stoppage? Would there have been, in normal circumstances, any coal exported from India at all?
§ Earl WINTERTONI think it is true, as the hon. Member suggests, to say that this export of coal was wholly due to the abnormal circumstances in this country. As far as I know, in normal years, no coal is exported from India to this country.
§ Mr. GARDNERIs the Noble Lord aware that the average wages of coal-miners in India do not exceed 7s. a week, while the figures he gives suggest that this coal was exported at a price level corresponding to that prevailing in this country?
§ Earl WINTERTONIf the hon. Member desires information on the subject of the wages of Indian miners, perhaps he will put down a question.