§ 31. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many tons of coal he estimates will be exported in 1955.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydThe total will partly depend upon changes in United 18 Kingdom coal output, but my present estimate is that we shall export between 12 and 12½ million tons in all.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that with imports of coal running at the present rate we shall be very much out of pocket? Have we not spent about £16 million on coal imports during 1954? Is it not stupid and crazy to go on exporting coal and then have to make up the gap by importing it?
§ Mr. LloydI have previously told the hon. and gallant Gentleman that there is a need to keep a foothold in our traditional markets in the interests of the coal industry. It is usual for a coal-producing country like Germany both to import and export coal continually, which is not so foolish as it sounds, because there are different varieties.