§ 42. Mr. WOMERSLEYasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can state the total tonnage of ex- 1749 ports of United Kingdom coal to Scandinavian countries for the five mouths ended 31st January, 1930, and for the five months ended 31st January, 1931, respectively?
§ Mr. GILLETTExports of coal from the United Kingdom to Sweden, Norway and Denmark amounted to 2,915,631 tons during the five months ended 31st January, 1930, and to 1,872,260 tons during the five months ended 31st January, 1931.
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYAre we to presume that it is owing to the Commission that went out to Scandinavia that there has been such a great reduction in the amount of the coal trade?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe report of the Commission will give the hon. Member information as to the reasons for the reduction. There is nothing further that I can add to it. He had better address a question to the Secretary of the Mines Department.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDDid the British representatives inform them that, if we were prepared to buy more timber from Sweden, she would be able to purchase more coal from us?
§ Mr. GILLETTI am not aware of that fact. If the right hon. Gentleman wants to know, my hon. Friend will inform him.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODCan the hon. Gentleman give us any reason for this reduction of exports to Scandinavian countries?
§ Mr. GILLETTI should advise my hon. Friend to read the report of the British Coal Delegation to Sweden, Norway and Denmark, which has just come out. I have no information beyond that.
§ Major the Marquess of TITCHFIELDIs it not a fact—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere have been enough supplementaries to this question.