§ 43. Mr. Mulveyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will publish the communication which he sent to the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in regard to the withdrawal of coal supplies in the event of the Northern Ireland Parliament not adopting double summer time.
§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Shinwell)No such communication has been sent to the Prime Minister or any other Minister of Northern Ireland. I recently saw the Northern Ireland Minister of Commerce and assured him that everything possible will be done to meet Northern Ireland's essential coal requirements.
§ Mr. MulveyIs the right hon Gentleman aware that when the Double Summer Time Bill came before the Northern Ireland Parliament, hon. Members of that Parliament were opposed to the Bill on the ground that the area is largely agricultural, and that the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, to secure the passage of the Bill, left the House under the impression, in a statement, that coal supplies would not be available from this country if the Bill was not passed?
§ Mr. ShinwellI was able to assure the Minister of Commerce about the matter. I am aware that Sir Roland Nugent. the Minister of Commerce, did say in the Northern Ireland Parliament that there was no threat to deprive Northern Ireland of coal.