HC Deb 05 April 1955 vol 539 cc976-7
11. Mr. Nabarro

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far coal is included in the policy of Her Majesty's Government for liberalising European trade.

Mr. Low

It is not intended to remove the control over the imports of coal from Europe in the near future, but each import control is subject to periodical review, in particular in the light of our balance-of-payments position and our obligations in O.E.E.C.

Mr. Nabarro

Can my right hon. Friend say why, for example, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates and paw-paw are all on open general licence—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Question is about coal.

Mr. Nabarro

I was about to mention coal, Mr. Speaker, when you rose. I was drawing attention to the fact that—

Mr. Speaker

I do not see what plums have got to do with it.

Mr. Nabarro

May I ask my right hon. Friend why inessential fruits are on open licence, and essential coal, of which we are said to be importing 10 million tons this year, is kept on a stringently rationed licence system?

Mr. Low

As has already been explained to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, we have, in fact, imported from Europe all the coal that was available of the type that we wanted, and this import control has not operated against the consumer of coal.