§ 62. Mr. J. GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of anthracite coal exported to the Dominion 505 of Canada from Indo-China, Russia, and South Wales, respectively, in each year since 1931, and the price at which the coal from each country is purchased by the Dominion?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Captain Crookshank)The only figures available with regard to Indo-China are those for imports into Canada, a statement of which I will circulate. As regards Russia, there was no importation in the period referred to. As regards South Wales, there are no official figures of exports, but for purposes of comparison I will include in the statement figures of the total imports from the United Kingdom. Particulars of prices are not available.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSDo I understand from the hon. and gallant Gentleman that he has no official figures of the exports of anthracite from South Wales to Canada; and is he not aware that there is very great concern in South Wales at the possibility of a very serious reduction in the amount of anthracite going to Canada?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKYes, Sir; I am aware of that. If the hon. Member wants to know any particulars about the statistics and will see me about it, I will explain to him the way in which the statistics are at present drawn up, which do not show exports of different qualities of coal from the different ports of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSDo I really understand from the Secretary for Mines that he has no official figures of the amount of anthracite shipped from Welsh ports to Canada?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKYes, I have just said so. I appreciate the hon. Member's anxiety, but the official statistics, the form of which has been in existence for many years, split up the total exports to show the exports to particular countries by quantities and qualities of coal and by districts, but they do not show what he wants to know, which is qualities by destination and how much of each quality is sent from each district.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSIt is not a question of the quality of coal but the kind of coal—anthracite—and surely separate 506 records are kept not merely of the quantity of anthracite going to Canada but to every country in the world?
§ Following is the statement:
§ Imports (for consumption) of anthracite into Canada from the United Kingdom and French Indo-China, 1931–1935.
| Imported from. | ||
| Year. | United Kingdom. | French Indo-China. |
| Short Tons. | Short Tons. | |
| 1931 | 876,364 | 4,592 |
| 1932 | 1,395,679 | 700 |
| 1933 | 1,603,071 | — |
| 1934 | 1,643,501 | — |
| 1935 | 1,457,806 | 35,631 |
§ The figures of imports from South Wales are not recorded separately.