§ 19. Mr. A. Jenkinsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the failure of the British coal exporters to secure the contract to supply coals to the French State railways, and that the contract has been given to German and Polish firms; whether he can state the price of the British, German, and Polish tenders; whether the German and Polish tender prices are high enough to cover costs of production and delivery or whether subsidies will be used; and, if so, what is the approximate subsidy per ton?
§ Captain CrookshankAccording to my information, the French State railways have placed orders for about 100,000–125,000 tons of South Wales coal for delivery over the next three months, while another contract for about 50,000–60,000 tons for delivery over the next six months has been placed in Germany. I am not aware of any similar purchase of Polish coal. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and I regret that I have no information which would enable me to answer the last two parts of the question.
§ Mr. JenkinsDo I understand that the Mines Department have no knowledge at all of the amount of subsidy per ton on German coal for export purposes at the present time?
§ Captain CrookshankThe hon. Member asks me for the price of the tenders, and I said that I cannot give it.
§ Mr. JenkinsBut I also ask what is the approximate subsidy per ton?
§ Captain CrookshankIf I do not know the price of the tenders I cannot give the hon. Member the price of the subsidy per ton.
§ Mr. ThorneIs the hon. and gallant Member aware that the price quoted by German coalowners is 20s. 4d. per ton? Has not the Department got that information?
§ 20. Mr. Jenkinsasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the reduction in the export of coal from this country by, approximately, 20,000,000 statute tons during this year as compared with 1930, whereas the export of coal from Germany is, approximately the same as in 1930; whether he can indicate the cause or causes of the 1758 decline in British coal exports as compared with German; and whether his Department contemplates taking any steps to recover the markets lost to the coal trade of this country during the past seven years?
§ Captain CrookshankI am aware that the position is, broadly speaking, as described by the hon. Member in the first part of his question. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer to the reply which I gave him on 15th June.
§ Mr. JenkinsIn view of the serious situation as far as the export trade of coal is concerned, and also in view of the fact that, apparently, the Mines Department has no policy with regard to it, will the hon. and gallant Member agree to appoint a committee to go into the whole details and see whether it is able to recommend to the Government some policy to deal effectively with the situation?
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsAm I correct in assuming that the party opposite passed the Coal Mines Act, 1930, in 1930?
§ Mr. LawsonDoes the Department of the hon. and gallant Member get any information at all from the commercial people attached to the Foreign Office?
§ Captain CrookshankYes, Sir. Commercial secretariats in all countries are there in order to assist British trade. As regards the question of the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. Jenkins) I do not think any useful purpose would be served by appointing a committee. The question is one of the general policy of the Government.
§ Mr. JenkinsIn view of the fact that this country has lost 20,000,000 tons of exports since 1930, and that Germany has maintained her 1930 quantity of exports, is it not a serious matter and will not the Government take some steps to bring about a remedy?
§ Captain CrookshankNo one is more ready to agree with the hon. Member than I am.