§ 37. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines how the quota schemes under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, are proceeding?
§ Mr. FOOTA report on the working of these schemes was issued by my predecessor on the 15th July in Command Paper No. 3905. Since the period covered by the report, the regulation of output has on the whole been working smoothly and some advance has been made in the arrangements for the co-ordination of minimum prices between district and district. In a review of the effect of the operation of the Central Scheme the Central Council suggest that it is still too early to bring the results attained into true perspective; they add, however, that the fact that the general level of coal prices has been maintained during a period when the level of wholesale prices of other commodities showed a decline, is no doubt to be attributed in some measure to the operation of the scheme under Part I of the Act. It is my intention later on in the year to present to Parliament a further report upon the operation of the schemes under Part I of the Act up to the end of September.
§ Mr. SMITHWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him if he is satisfied that there is no lack of supplies of coal at the Humber ports for export, particularly the port of Goole?
§ Mr. FOOTThere is nothing in the question on the Paper as to any particular district, and notice should be given of that question.
§ Mr. SMITHDoes not the hon. Gentleman remember that many criticisms were made during the lifetime of the late Government, to the effect that there were insufficient supplies of coal due to the working of the quota system? I ask him whether he has had any complaints regarding the lack of supplies of coal for export at the Humber ports?
§ Mr. FOOTI have no personal knowledge of any complaints. No complaints have been brought to my notice during the short time that I have been in office. I may inform the hon. Member that there is another question on the Order Paper —No. 35—which deals more fully with the working of the quota system.
§ Mr. SHINWELLMay I ask whether the opinion of the Central Council of Coalowners as to the advantages accruing to the coal industry from Part I of the Act will be communicated by him to his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas the hon. Gentleman had any complaints about the shortage of coal under the quota system in North Staffordshire?
§ Mr. FOOTThe difficulty in North Staffordshire does not arise from the quota system, but obviously notice ought to be given of questions relating to particular districts.