HC Deb 28 March 1944 vol 398 c1235
27. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the tonnage of British coal sold abroad for each year since the outbreak of War, including, if possible, the first three months of 1944.

Major Lloyd George

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a similar Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on 25th January.

Mr. Davies

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree with the statement in the Press the other day that we sold 47,000 tons of coal to Portugal? How can he convince the miners of the necessity to produce coal for the war effort if we are able to sell coal abroad?

Major Lloyd George

I can only assure my hon. Friend that there are things we need from abroad, and, as I said in my answer the other day, we are not exporting any coal which is necessary for our own war effort.