HC Deb 25 February 1931 vol 248 c2128
73. Mr. WALKER

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that, under the operations of the South Wales coal marketing board, Monmouthshire coal is being shipped at Cardiff instead of at the Monmouthshire port of Newport, and as a consequence the Newport docks are practically at a standstill; and will he make inquiries into the matter with a view to securing for the Newport docks an equitable share of the available work, and so alleviate to some extent the unemployment among the Newport dock workers?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Shinwell)

I am informed that nothing has been done under the South Wales District (Coal Mines) Scheme which would affect the proportion of Monmouthshire coal shipped at Newport and Cardiff respectively. The second part of the question therefore does not arise. It is not unusual in the ordinary course of trade for Monmouthshire coal to be shipped from Cardiff instead of Newport, but the information at my disposal does not support the statement that the Newport docks are practically at a standstill.