§ 32. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will state what has been the course of the export trade in coal from the Tyne ports since the coming into operation of the Coal Mines Act, 1930?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Shinwell)I have been asked to reply. The quantity of coal shipped as cargo from the Tyne ports (i.e., Newcastle and 14 North and South shields) for each month from August, 1930, onwards was:
| Tons. | |||
| August | … | … | 771,630 |
| September | … | … | 979,601 |
| October | … | … | 947,025 |
| November | … | … | 802,061 |
| December | … | … | 902,016 |
| January, 1931 | … | … | 893,367 |
§ Particulars for February, 1931, are not yet available. I would remind the hon. Member that, although the Coal Mines Act received the Royal Assent on 1st August, 1930, the reduction in hours of work (Part III) did not become operative until 1st December, and that schemes for the regulation of output did not become operative until 1st January, 1931.