§ 4. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of British shipping for 1913, 1920 and 1928, and the proportion of coal-fired, oil-fired and motor-driven vessels in each year?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe answer involves a table of figures and, with the hon. Member's permission, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ British coal in Germany, Spain or other European countries; and whether penalties are imposed upon buyers of British coal in any cases where permission to import has not been obtained?
741§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIn Spain, State and municipal services and certain industries are only allowed to use foreign coal up to a specified percentage of their total consumption, the percentage varying with the industry, and for the rest are required to use national coal. There is no direct control over the importation of coal. In Germany the importation of coal is prohibited except under licence, and in Russia there is prohibition of importation. With regard to the last part of the question, penalties are no doubt imposed to ensure the observance of the law.
§ Mr. BATEYHave the Government made any attempt to secure the removal of the restrictions in Spain?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, Sir, we have had continual negotiations, and
| Year. | Number of Persons employed in Coal Mining in Great Britain. | Output of Saleable Coal. | ||||||
| Underground. | Surface. | Total. | ||||||
| Tons. | ||||||||
| 1913 | … | … | … | … | 890,700 | 213,700 | 1,104,400 | 287,318,000 |
| 1920 | … | … | … | … | 972,800 | 253,100 | 1,225,900 | 229,424,000 |
| 1928* | … | … | … | … | 749,200 | 193,800 | 943,000 | 237,750,000 |
| * Provisional and subject to correction. |