HC Deb 20 March 1934 vol 287 cc1015-6
3. Miss WARD

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make any statement as to the extent that Finland is carrying out her obligations under the coal provisions of the Anglo-Finnish Trade Agreement; and whether he can give the House any information on the position?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)

The coal provisions of the Anglo-Finnish Trade Agreement re- late to a yearly period, so that no question of their fulfilment or non-fulfilment can arise at present. I have no reason to doubt that 75 per cent. of the annual imports of coal into Finland will in fact be derived from the United Kingdom, and in this connection I understand that a Measure for the regulation of coal imports has now received a Third Reading in the Finnish Parliament.

Miss WARD

Has the hon. Gentleman's attention been directed to the Press reports in this connection?

Mr. BROWN

Yes, and I deprecate the statement that has appeared in certain sections of the Press; it has done harm.