§ 17. Mr. LUNNasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total tonnage of coal that has been exported from Great Britain to foreign countries and the total exported to the Dominions during 1932, to the latest date; and the total exported to foreign countries and to the Dominions during the same period of 1931?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe total tonnage of coal exported from the United Kingdom and registered during the first 10 months of 1932 as consigned to foreign countries and to the British Dominions was 28,426,000 tons and 3,185,000 tons, re- 631 spectively. The corresponding figures for the first 10 months of 1931 were 31,965,000 tons and 2,941,000 tons, respectively.
§ Mr. LUNNIs there still an import duty of 1s. 7½d. a ton against British coal entering Canada? What preference have the Government obtained for British coal at Ottawa?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIf my hon. Friend will put a question on the Paper, I will try to get the correct information for him.
§ 28. Captain SOTHERON-ESTCOURTasked the Secretary for Mines whether in his communications with Denmark for the purpose of furthering the sale of British coal to Denmark, he will see that the interests of South Yorkshire are given equal consideration with those of Durham and Northumberland?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)I presume my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the coal trade delegation to Denmark, the object of which I described in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on 15th November, and which began its discussions in Copenhagen yesterday. The interests of South Yorkshire are, of course, represented on the delegation, and my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that in these discussions and in the subsequent official negotiations in London the interests of all the coal exporting districts will receive equal consideration.
§ Captain SOTHERON-ESTCOURTIs the hon. Gentleman aware that statements have been made publicly in Yorkshire to the effect that at the instigation of his Department the delegation has been persuaded to further the interests of Northumberland and Durham coal at the expense of South Yorkshire coal?
§ Mr. BROWNI have received certain anonymous letters, but, as my hon. and gallant Friend will understand, I do not always attach importance to such communications, or accept the accuracy of anonymous contributions to the Press. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular point in mind, I shall be glad to discuss it with him and furnish him with our views upon it.
§ Mr. GODFREY NICHOLSONDoes not the hon. Gentleman deprecate any 632 attempt to increase the feeling as between one district and another?