§ 14. Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the complaint contained in the annual report of the Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association for 1935, of the difficulty experienced in obtaining adequate supplies of bunkers for British ships engaged in the foreign trade, as a result of which ships have been compelled to obtain abroad their necessary supplies of bunker coal; and will he look into the matter?
§ Under SECRETARY for MINES (Captain Crookshank)The part of the report to which my hon. Friend draws my attention is principally concerned with the possible effects of the reorganisation of the selling side of the coal industry on supplies of bunker coal. I have already suggested to the Shipowners' Parliamentary Committee, on which the Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association is represented, that they should discuss this matter with the Central Council of Colliery Owners, and I understand that conversations are proceeding.