§ 47. Mr. Shortasked the Paymaster-General if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that they are to ensure that all ships chartered by the Board to import mining materials are registered in Great Britain.
§ Sir I. HorobinI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to similar Questions last week.
§ Mr. ShortWhile no one wishes to tie the hands of the National Coal Board permanently in this matter, does not the hon. Gentleman agree that while there is a slump in British shipping, with so many ships laid up around the coast, the Board should charter British ships for the time being?
§ Sir I. HorobinI think we must stick to the general principle that we cannot run this industry from this Box. This 890 is a question entirely for the National Coal Board in the exercise of its ordinary commercial discretion.