§ 53 and 54. Major Sir Herbert Cayzerasked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he is aware that, consequent upon the operation of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, merchant vessels are unable to obtain supplies of British coal at recognised coaling stations, particularly in the Mediterranean, and are compelled to take foreign supplies; and, having regard 23 to the representations made by the Government to the shipping industry urging a greater utilisation of coal for bunkering so as to assist the British coal mining industry, whether he will undertake immediately to revise the regulations under the said Act to ensure that there shall be no restrictions on the production, distribution, and shipment of coal destined to stock depots at recognised coaling stations;
(2) whether he is aware that, consequent upon the operation of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, merchant vessels are experiencing difficulty in obtaining supplies of bunker coal at home bunker ports; that in some cases owners have had to divert their vessels from British ports to the Continent to obtain bunker supplies; and whether, having regard to the representations made by the Government to the shipping industry urging a greater utilisation of coal for bunkering, so as to assist the British coal mining industry, he will undertake immediately to revise the regulations under the said Act to remove all restrictions in connection with the production and distribution of coal destined for use as ships' bunkers?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)I am aware that there are difficulties in obtaining supplies of coal for bunkering purposes, but I do not agree that they are consequent on the operation of the Coal Mines Act, 1930. In these circumstances, I am not prepared to take the action suggested in the second parts of the questions. I would add that no complaint that the shortage of coal for bunkering purposes is due to the operation of the schemes in force under the 1930 Act has been lodged with any of the committees of investigation set up under Section 5 of that Act.
§ Sir H. CayzerIs the Minister aware that cases are happening every day of boats being unable to get coal, and is it not also a fact that the Government have asked British shipowners to use British coal, and that by this Act the ships are unable to get supplies; and will he see whether some action cannot be taken so that they can get supplies without having to go to foreign ports and get foreign coal?
§ Captain CrookshankI do not think the hon. Baronet can have grasped the 24 significance of my answer, because I said that in my opinion that was not the case. The reason it is difficult to get coal at the moment is that, for once in a way, the demand is in excess of the supply for many purposes.