§ 63. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether in relation to the recent increase in coal bunker prices he is aware that in addition to the representations he received from the Leith Shipowners' Society he also received a protest against the sudden rise in price by the General Council of British Shipping on behalf of the whole shipping industry; and what reply he made to this protest.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe answer to the first part of the Question is, "No, Sir." The second part does not therefore arise.
§ Colonel RopnerIs the Minister aware that the shipping industry considers it proper to make representations in the first place to the Minister of Transport, and may I assume that when matters are raised in the first instance with the Minister of Transport concerning bunker coal the information is passed to his Department? If that assumption is correct, will he say why he made such a misleading reply on 5th February when he said that the only representations received were from the Leith Shipowners' Society?
§ Mr. GaitskellI do not agree that the reply was misleading. It answered the Question, as my answer did today.