§ 58. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the rough approximate tonnage of coal required to produce the 3,900,000 tons of foreign iron and steel of various forms imported into Great Britain between 1st January, 1929, and 30th April, 1930?
§ Mr. GILLETTIt is not possible, on account of differences in practice, to make a close estimate of the amount of coal which would be required if this additional quantity of iron and steel were manufactured in this country, but the amount would probably lie between nine and 13 million tons.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELDoes not this importation of foreign iron and steel mean a hidden importation of foreign coal to the extent of 9,000,000 or 13,000,000 tons?
§ Mr. GILLETTNo, Sir. The hon. Gentleman has forgotten the large amount of coal we export to a number of these countries which send us this steel.
§ Mr. SAMUELBut even minus that amount, does not the balance represent a hidden import of several million tons of foreign coal?
§ Mr. GILLETTThere are still other factors which would have to be borne in mind.
§ Major COLVILLEIf the steel were made here, would not the coal used provide work for some thousands of our own miners?