HC Deb 17 March 1931 vol 249 cc1837-41
17. Colonel CLIFTON BROWN

asked the Secretary for Mines what steps he is taking to secure an adequate supply of house coal for London in view of the threatened shortage?

Mr. SHINWELL

I am unable to accept the suggestion that there is any threatened shortage of house coal supplies for London. The National Committee of Investigation have reported that, after a careful review of the evidence placed before them on a complaint by the Coal Merchants' Federation, they are not satisfied that there is any general shortage of coal. The Committee add that in a few isolated cases difficulties may be arising, but these can, it appears, be met from other sources of supply in Great Britain. I am informed that considerable quantities of house coal are on offer in London.

Colonel BROWN

Has the hon. Gentleman not seen the statement made by the President of the Coal Merchants' Federation last Saturday to the effect that they already had to restrict supplies?

Mr. SHINWELL

Yes, I read that statement. Since then we have had conversations with the President of the Coal Merchants' Federation, and he has informed us that his remarks were not intended to convey all that has been assumed from them.

20. Mr. EVERARD

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of tons of coal allowed to be raised this month in the collieries in Leicestershire under the quota system; and the number of tons raised in March, 1930?

Mr. SHINWELL

I am not in possession of the information asked for in the first part of the question. The estimated quantity of coal raised and weighed in the Leicester ascertainment district in March, 1930, was 190,000 tons.

Mr. EVERARD

Am I right in believing that the quota is 58 per cent. of what was raised last year; and, as household coal is produced in Leicestershire, and as there is a great demand for household coal, has not the quota put a large number of people in the mines of Leicestershire out of work?

Mr. SHINWELL

That is not the position. The quota is a quarterly quota, and it was not fixed at 58 per cent. but at 10 per cent. below the production for the period before last January.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Is it not a fact that the allocation for the third quarter of this year is 10 per cent. less than what was raised in the first quarter last year; and is it not the case that the present allocation is infinitely larger than the quantity for which the majority of coalowners in Leicestershire and Lancashire have orders?

Mr. SHINWELL

I cannot reply to the last part of the supplementary question without notice, but I agree with the hon. Member with regard to the first part.

Mr. ERNEST WINTERTON

Has the hon. Gentleman received any complaints from the Leicestershire Miners' Association or from the coalowners regarding the quota?

24. Mr. HERRIOTTS

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the quarter's allocation of coal output fixed by the Central Council under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, for all the districts in Great Britain; and what was the output in each district, respectively, in January and February, 1931?

Mr. SHINWELL

As the reply involves a table of figures, I will, with

Districts. Allocation made by the Central Council for the quarter ending 31st March, 1931. Estimated quantity of coal raised and weighed during January and February, 1931.
Tons. Tons.
Northumberland 3,369 150 2,167,400
Durham 9,306 810 5,607 000
Cumberland 599,160 352,900
Lancashire and Cheshire 3,933,900 2,597,000
Midland (Amalgamated) 19,056,060 13,582,200
Shropshire 166,820 107,300
North Staffordshire 1,521,810 962,200
South Staffordshire (exclusive of Cannock Chase) and Worcestershire. 431,930 257,600
Cannock Chase 1,300,190 877,000
Warwickshire 1,190,950 799,800
Forest of Dean 344,610 208,500
Bistol 52,180 33,100
Somerset 232,430 151,900
Kent 400,000 248,300
North Wales 882,740 541,700
South Wales and Monmouthshire 11,859,840 5,164,500
Scotland 7,937,010 5,020,100
Total 62,585,590 38,678,500
27. Sir VICTOR WARRENDER

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the shortage of coal supplies in the county of Kesteven due to the operation of the quota provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1930; and whether he is prepared to take action to ensure that supplies of coal are available for the local population?

my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. HERRIOTTS

Will the hon. Gentleman give us the total for the United Kingdom?

Mr. SHINWELL

The total allocation made by the Central Council for the quarter ending 31st March, 1931, was 62,585,590 tons, whereas the estimated quantity of coal raised and weighed in January and February, 1931, was 38,678,500 tons.

Mr. HERRIOTTS

Does not this show that the quota is far from being exhausted, and can the hon. Gentleman assure the House that there is an adequate supply of coal?

Mr. SHINWELL

These figures indicate that the quota for the whole country is far from exhausted.

Following is the table:

Mr. SHINWELL

I have received no complaints with regard to shortage of coal supplies in Kesteven. My information is that there is no general shortage of coal, and that in those isolated cases where coal cannot be secured from normal sources of supply, alternative supplies are available.

Sir V. WARRENDER

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I was speaking from personal experience and from information obtained from my own coal merchant in the county?

Mr. SHINWELL

I am happy to assure the hon. Gentleman that that is not so. If he will furnish me with particulars regarding the alleged shortage of coal in Kesteven, I shall be glad to do what I can to put the matter right. As regards price, it is wrong to say that coal now on offer in the market is being charged for at a higher price.

Sir V. WARRENDER

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I am speaking from experience?

Mr. SHINWELL

There may be an isolated case due to the heavy weather which has recently been experienced, and which has made it impossible to get an adequate supply, but surely the hon. Gentleman does not assume that, because he happens to go short of coal for a few days, the whole country has experienced a shortage.