§ 30. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now state the result of the consideration which, at his request, has been given by the National Coal Board to the representations from the Marshall Plan Administration for a reduction in the export price of British coal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GaitskellAs I informed the hon. Member on the 9th December last, the representations received from the Economic Co-operation Administration referred to the export prices of United Kingdom coal in relation to those of Bizone coal. These representations were the subject of a fact-finding discussion between the Board and the coal authorities of the Bizone in December last and the findings of this discussion have been sent to the Economic Co-operation Administration.
§ Mr. Platts-MillsIs it not the fact that we have already agreed to reduce the price of our export coal on American instructions—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Will the Minister answer my question without the reference to American instructions—we can judge for ourselves? If it is the case that we have to make up the extra sum somewhere, will the Minister consider taking it off the £164 million which apparently we are going to pay to the former coalowners?
§ Mr. GaitskellIt is incorrect that the Coal Board have reduced their prices on American instructions. It is for the National Coal Board to decide at what price they will sell in the light of the commercial situation.