HC Deb 21 April 1947 vol 436 cc596-7
38. Mr. Cooper

asked the Minister of Supply in view of the export of mining machinery during /946, if he will make a statement of the intentions in connection with the export of similar machinery during 1947, in view of the urgent need for immediate delivery to collieries of conveyor belting, cables, heavy electric motors, cutters and conveyors.

Mr. Wilmot

Full account will be taken of the urgent need of the collieries for mining machinery when the export quota for 1947 is fixed.

Mr. Cooper

Does my right hon. Friend not agree that coalmining in this country is more important to our economy than goldmining is abroad, and would he see that none of our productive effort is diverted to goldmining in preference to coalmining machinery?

Mr. Wilmot

Machinery for our coal mines will come first.