§ 1. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Paymaster-General if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to give guarantees of coal tonnage for export to the continental market.
§ The Paymaster-General (Mr. Reginald Maudling)No, Sir. The National Coal Board has already announced its willingness to arrange for sales of small coal on long-term contracts in order to provide assurance of continuity of supply.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes not the Paymaster-General appreciate that the re-establishment of our former position in the continental market requires that some guarantee of delivery should be given from the National Coal Board?
§ Mr. MaudlingI think the National Coal Board is very well aware of the important matter that the hon. Member has raised, but I think it would be quite wrong to issue a direction to the Board I think it is a matter for its commercial judgment.
§ Mr. NealWithout desiring to tempt the Paymaster-General into the disclosure of information which may prove unhelpful to those whose duty it is to sell coal, may I ask him whether he agrees that an annual export target is necessary in order to ensure continuity of supplies to our customers abroad?
§ Mr. MaudlingIt is perfectly true that unless we can assure our customers of pretty regular supplies it is much more difficult to get contracts, and that the selling of spot cargoes is less satisfactory, but I can assure hon. Members that the National Coal Board is very well aware of this and that its commercial department will enter into these long-term contracts whenever it can do so.
§ Mr. NabarroHaving regard to the importance of coal exports to our national economy, can my right hon. Friend say, in the instance of the year 1958, approximately what additional tonnage of coal he expects to be exported from the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. MaudlingNot without notice, I am afraid.