§ 5. Dr. LEECHasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take in foreign trade negotiations to remedy the displacement of British for German coal in those foreign countries who still sell more goods to us than they buy of us; and whether the British coal trade is concentrating its export sales organisation into a system of centralised direction as a method by which to recapture foreign markets?
§ Captain WALLACEIn the trade negotiations with every country to which British coal has been or might be sold, coal has been one of the major items for consideration. My hon. and gallant Friend, the Secretary for Mines, assured the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. G. Hall) on 24th November that no opportunity of bringing about an improvement in the coal export trade of this country is or will be overlooked. With regard to the second part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend that the amended schemes under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, which came into operation on 1st August, this year, empowered the Central Council of Colliery Owners to co 1802 ordinate the district arrangements for the sale of coal in the export markets.
§ Mr. JAMES GRIFFITHSIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the reason why German coal is displacing British coal is because it is sold at 15s. and 20s. below cost because it is subsidised by the whole nation?
§ Captain WALLACE:The hon. Member is giving me information which I shall be delighted to pass on to my hon. Friend.
§ Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL:Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us whether active steps have been taken for operating a central selling agency for export coal, and whether the steps have had a definite result in the desired direction?
§ Captain WALLACEThe body to which I have referred have powers under the Act, and they are the last persons in the world who would neglect an opportunity of fostering the export trade.
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSIs it not a fact that the coalowners are now waking up when it is too late?