§ 56. Colonel ROPNERasked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the approximate proportion of her coal requirements obtained by Finland from Great Britain since the Anglo-Finnish Trade Treaty came into force; and what steps it is proposed to take to ensure the adequate maintenance of the 75 per cent. coal quota provisions contained therein?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe coal provisions of the Anglo-Finnish Trade Agreement have been operative since 1st December last, and during December, the only month for which figures are yet available, slightly over 47 per cent. of the coal imports into Finland came from the United Kingdom. The coal provisions of the agreement relate to a yearly period, so that no question of their fulfilment or non-fulfilment can arise at present. I have, however, no reason to doubt that 75 per cent. of the annual imports into Finland will in fact be derived from the United Kingdom. In this connection I understand that a measure is now before the Finnish Parliament for the regulation of coal imports.