7. Major Thorneycroftasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, what have so far been the requirements of liberated Italy for coal; and how far these have been met from British and how far from American sources.
Major Lloyd GeorgeAlthough a considerable tonnage of coal has been required for the needs of the Allied Forces in Italy, both for their own consumption and for use on railways, public utility plants and industries necessary to military operations, very little coal has been shipped into Italy for civilian use. It 717 would not be in the public interest to give figures of total shipments into the Italian theatre, but I can inform my hon. and gallant Friend that no coal has been sent there from this country since January. All the requirements have been met from the Sardinian mines, which are being operated under Allied military control, from South Africa, India and the United States.