§ 8. Lieut.-Colonel Lancasterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now prepared to publish the statistics of British coal exports for the years since the war.
Major Lloyd GeorgeAs my hon. and gallant Friend will know, figures of the total quantity of coal shipped as exports and foreign bunkers from 1938 to the end of the first quarter of 1944 were given in Table 23 of my Statistical Digest {Command Paper 6538).
§ Mr. A. EdwardsIf I put down a Question, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how much of that coal has been paid for, and how much has not been paid for?
§ 9. Lieut.-Colonel Lancasterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether exports of British coal to the Argentine are still continuing; and whether it is estimated that a demand for British coal is likely to follow the termination of hostilities.
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." With regard to the second part, I anticipate that there will be a demand for British coal, but the extent to which it will be possible to meet that demand will depend upon the supply position.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LancasterIs the reason for our non-export of coal to the Argentine at present, lack of shipping or lack of coal?
§ Mr. ShinwellWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman be careful to see that we do not surrender all the advantages we formerly possessed in the export of coal to the Argentine?
Major Lloyd GeorgeOf course not. I regard that as an extremely important part of our post-war position, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that the question of present supply does come in.