§ 24. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Secretary for Mines whether discussions between the British Government and the Argentine Government with a view to improving the British coal market in the Argentine have yet commenced; and, if not, what preliminary steps have been taken?
§ Mr. E. BROWNCoal is dealt with in Paragraph 6 of the Protocol to the Convention of 1st May. It is expected that negotiations upon this and other matters will be commenced in about a fortnight's time in Buenos Aires.
§ Mr. SMITHERSWould not the export trade be increased if the provisions for the quota export of coal were made more elastic?
§ Mr. BROWNIt is rather difficult to answer that question in the affirmative Since during recent years our share of the Argentine import has been about 90 per cent.