12. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantities of coal he intends purchasing from the United States during the coming year.
§ 13. Mr. Gammansasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what orders have been placed in the United States of America or elsewhere for coal to be imported for next winter.
§ 24. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantities of American coal he proposes to import during the coal year 1951— 52.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerNo decision has been made to import coal, either from the United States or from elsewhere.
Air Commodore HarveyWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind what happened last year when this decision was left so late that the country did not know where it stood with regard to coal supplies either for industry or for household use? Is it not his duty to make up his mind now one way or the other?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am certainly not likely to forget what happened last winter.
§ Mr. GammansDoes the Minister's answer mean that now in July the Government have not the faintest idea whether they have got to import coal or not? Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that if he waits until the autumn or winter either he will get no coal at all or else it will be at a much higher price than the price for which he can buy it now?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerMy answer means exactly what it says.
§ Mr. NabarroDoes the Minister realise that his late decision last year resulted in a chronic dislocation of the freight markets of the world, and that this year we are paying the price by a grievous reduction in iron ore imports, which, in turn, will affect our steel production'? Now will he do something about it?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIf I announced a decision to import coal today it would have the same effect upon the freight markets. Shipping is very scarce today.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the great congestion on the railways this year provides an additional reason, even above those reasons which became so obvious last year, why he should take an early decision? Have the Coal Board advised him that it is necessary to import American coal?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI do not wish to add to what I have said. I am fully aware of the considerations which the right hon. Gentleman has advanced.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-EyreIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's own figures about the present rate of consumption and the impossibility of building up the winter coal stocks, how can he say that he cannot arrive at a decision by this time? Surely it is necessary to do so.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI have not said it is impossible to build up the necessary winter stocks. What I have said is that it is necessary to increase output and to secure economy in the use of coal which, at present, is used very wastefully indeed.