Imports

HC Deb 27 June 1955 vol 543 cc20-1

27. Mr. Collins

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the approximate total tonnage of coal which will be imported during the year 1955.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

At present rates, about 12 million tons.

Mr. Collins

Is the Minister aware that the anticipated £25 million lost on this imported coal will completely distort the accounts of the National Coal Board and result in a completely disproportionate increase in the cost of coal to industry and to domestic consumers, quite apart from the effect on the cost of living? Does he not therefore think that, as this coal is imported on Government account, the loss should be borne on Government account?

Mr. Lloyd

No, Sir. I think that if the National Coal Board is unable to meet the demands of the country it is reasonable that coal should be imported in the way it is being imported.

Mr. Attlee

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to apply the same principle to farmers? Are they to pay for all the corn they cannot grow? Surely it is a ridiculous principle?

Mr. Nabarro

Is it not a fact that the National Coal Board has a responsibility under the Statute of 1946 to provide an abundance of coal at economic prices? If it cannot do that, why should it not bear the whole cost of importing coal?

Mr. Warbey

In order to put the matter in its right perspective, would the Minister give reasons why the National Coal Board and the miners are not able to produce sufficient coal, particularly in view of the fact that output per man-shift is at a record high level?

Mr. Lloyd

It would require a long time to go into that problem.

Mr. Robens

Has the National Coal Board now to bear this enormous sum of money for imports? Would the Minister agree, then, that the Coal Board may take every step to conserve the coal it is producing, which would be sufficient if a proper fuel policy were applied by the Government?

Mr. Lloyd

I think that the Coal Board does that—indeed, it has a good record—and also the Government's measures with regard to the National Fuel Efficiency Service are being very successful.

Mr. Robens

If the Coal Board has to pay for the importation of coal, is it not entitled to ration manufacturers who are wastefully using this coal day after day?

Mr. Lloyd

No, Sir. We cannot have a system of authoritarian rationing of every industrial consumer simply because of the difficulties of our coal position. Let it be remembered that the cost of this ultimately is borne not by the Coal Board, but by the consumer.