§ 48. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary for Mines what amount of the 1,000,000 tons of British coal to be shipped to Italy under agreement with the Italian Government has now been shipped from this country; and whether any quantity has been carried in British ships?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI am advised that 502,500 tons of this coal have already been shipped, practically all in Italian vessels.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEMay I ask whether it was not an understanding when this arrangement was made that a certain proportion of this coal should be shipped in British bottoms, and whether any representations have been made to the Italian Government to that effect?
§ Mr. SHINWELLMy information is to the opposite effect.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSAre we to understand that the agreement was to ship this coal in Italian bottoms?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe question did not arise in a definite form. It was an arrangement for the supply of coal, principally from South Wales, to Italy.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEWhen this arrangement was made, was there a definite understanding that this coal should be shipped in Italian bottoms?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThat is not so.