§ 58. Mr. G. HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a large number of miners employed at the Llewellyn collieries, Mountain Ash and Penrhiwceiber, and the Bwllfa collieries, Aberdare, have received 14 days' notice to terminate their employment, the reason being the falling off of the export of dry steam coal to France; can he make any statement as to the progress made in the negotiation of a trade agreement with France; and whether consideration is given to the position of the coal export trade to that country?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)I am aware that notices have been given to about 850 men working at this group of pits. As regards the second and third parts of the question, the discussions with the French Government, which began in London on 14th March, were concerned with the question of quotas, including that applied to coal, and with the preparation of drafts intended to replace the Conventions of 1826 and 1882 which were recently denounced. The discussions are suspended for the present, the French delegation having been obliged to return to Paris owing to other negotiations on which they were engaged.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI hope so.