§ 22. Colonel J. R. H. Hutchisonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantities of coal and coke have been shipped during 1948 to date from each of the Scottish ports; and what percentages that total represents of the total U.K. exports for a similar period.
§ Mr. GaitskellAs the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the information:
| SHIPMENTS OF COAL AND COKE FROM SCOTTISH PORTS DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 3IST MARCH, 1948. | |||
| (Tons). | |||
| Port of Shipment. | Shipped as Cargo. | Shipped as Bunkers | |
| Coal. | Coke. | Coal. | |
| Aberdeen | — | — | 50,091 |
| Ardrossan | 4,588 | 498 | 6,260 |
| Ayr | 14,596 | — | 611 |
| Banff | — | — | 434 |
| Borrowstones | — | — | 101 |
| Burntisland | — | — | 2,404 |
| Dundee | — | — | 1,940 |
| Fraserburgh | — | — | 444 |
| Glasgow | 43,533 | 1,838 | 57,603 |
| Grangemouth | 10,708 | — | 8,666 |
| Granton | — | — | 41,565 |
| Greenock | —. | — | 6,704 |
| Inverness | — | — | 521 |
| Irvine | — | — | 60 |
| Kirkwall | — | — | 5 |
| Leith | 403 | — | 27,084 |
| Lerwick | — | — | 207 |
| Methil | 112,216 | — | 18,969 |
| Peterhead | — | — | 1,097 |
| Stornoway | — | — | 2,670 |
| Troon | — | — | 325 |
| Wick | — | — | 87 |
| Wigtown | 3,646 | — | — |
| Total from Scottish ports. | 189,780 | 2,336 | 227,848 |
| Total shipments from the United Kingdom during the same period. | 1,050,170 | 4,968 | 1,213,473 |
| Shipments from Scotland as percentage of total shipments. | 18% | 47% | 19% |
§ 23. Colonel Hutchisonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power who allocates the quantities and qualities of coal for export; and from what ports they are to be shipped.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe Government decide the total availability of coal for export in the light of the probable output and the needs of the home market. The bulk of the exports is assigned to individual countries under inter-Governmental Trade Agreements. The Board then allocates the necessary tonnages between its Divisions and these allocations largely determine the port of shipment.
§ Colonel HutchisonDo such other factors as the need to fill up space in otherwise empty ships enter into consideration as to what coal shall be shipped and from what port that coal shall be shipped?
§ Mr. GaitskellNo doubt the National Coal Board and the exporters would take those points into account.
§ Colonel HutchisonIs there any contact between the National Coal Board and such as the Ministry of Transport, who have a very direct interest in the other aspect of the same question?
§ Mr. GaitskellFull arrangements exist for consultation between the Board and the Ministry of Transport.