§ 8. Mr. G. MACDONALDasked the Secretary for Mines the total output of coal in Great Britain for the months of January and February, 1931; and whether the output during this period has been equal to the demand?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe estimated quantity of saleable goal raised in Great Britain during January, 1931, was 19,174,000 tons, and during February, 1931, 18,908,000 tons. This output was several 963 millions below the proportion of the quarter's allocation fixed by the Central Council under the Coal Mines Act, 1930. It is obvious, therefore, that demand was not equal to the permissible output.