§ 25. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much foreign coal was bought by the National Coal Board in accordance with his instructions; what was the price paid per ton; and from what countries was it purchased.
§ 26. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can yet say what is the price per ton, including freight and all other charges, of coal to be imported into the United Kingdom; and at what average price was similar quality coal exported from this country during 1950.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI am informed by the National Coal Board that they have bought, and chartered ships, for 1,073,300 tons of coal from overseas. The coal has been bought from the United States, India and Nigeria. Their negotiations are not yet complete, and it would, therefore, be contrary both to the public interest and to commercial practice to disclose the prices paid. The imported coal is of four classes, large, graded, smalls and unscreened. According to the Trade and Navigation Accounts, the average f.o.b. values per ton of coal of these classes exported from the United Kingdom in 1950 were as follow: large 81s.; graded 77s. 6d.; smalls, 56s. 2d.; unscreened 73s. 7d. The hon. Member will realise that these are average figures, and that there are wide differences of value for different qualities within these four main categories of coal.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterArising out of the right hon. Gentleman's repeated refusal to give the price paid for this coal, may I ask if he is aware that this price is perfectly well-known to the suppliers in the United States, in whose newspapers the price has been published? Is it, therefore, his view that the only body which shall not have that information is the House of Commons?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerNo, Sir. The publication of prices in the United States Press has nothing to do with the matter. In due course, I will give the House full information about these transactions, but not until they are fully complete.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydIn choosing the places from which this coal was bought, was this matter entirely decided by the availability of the coal, or did the Government have time to take into consideration whether one source or another would be more likely to disorganise world shipping?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWe took all relevant factors into consideration.
§ Mr. MarloweIf the right hon. Gentleman cannot give the prices, whatever they are, would he not agree that we are, in fact, buying coal at about three times the price at which we are selling it?