§ 59. Mr. D. GRENFELL (for Mr. GEORGE HALL)asked the Secretary for Mines, in view of the abandonment of the proposal made by the London Economic Conference for the reorganisation of coal production on an international basis, on what grounds the British coal producers based their refusal to take part with other coal-producing countries in negotiations for the furtherance of the scheme; and whether he is satisfied as to the validity of these objections?
§ Mr. E. BROWNFollowing the resolution adopted by the World Economic Conference inviting the principal coal producers to endeavour to organise coal production on an international basis, I inquired of the Central Council of Colliery Owners what action they proposed to take. In taking this step I had in mind that the British coalowners had taken the 509 initiative in calling an international conference on this matter in September, 1931. The council replied that they did not consider that any practical results could be achieved at the present time by such a conference as was suggested. I cannot accept the implication in the first part of the hon. Member's question that the proposal made by the World Economic Conference has been abandoned.