HC Deb 11 April 1960 vol 621 cc864-6
5. Mr. A. Roberts

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on his recent consultations with the Polish Government concerning the selling price of coal in foreign markets.

Mr. Wood

I recently had the opportunity to discuss with members of the Polish Government a number of matters concerning the coal industry. If the hon. Gentleman has in mind the possibility of some agreement on export prices, I would refer him to the reply given on 8th March by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Board of Trade, to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Boyden).

Mr. Roberts

No doubt the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Polish Government purchase a sizeable amount of capital goods from this country, and he will appreciate the difficulty of Polish trade at the moment. Would it not be possible for him to approach the Board of Trade so that it might make some arrangement with the Polish Government to ensure that they charge a true price for their coal instead of one which is, I would say, far below the economic price?

Mr. Wood

I do not understand how the hon. Gentleman's suggestion would help the Poles in their difficulty in having insufficient currency for imports into Poland. The Board of Trade is certainly very much in touch with the situation, and I suggest that the hon. Gentleman addresses a Question to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

Mr. Lee

We are pleased to know that the right hon. Gentleman has been in touch with the Polish Government. Would he agree that the reason why the Polish Government are dumping coal in the way they are doing is because they are very short of foreign currency? In the course of his discussions, has the right hon. Gentleman made any suggestions about credit facilities for the Polish Government?

Mr. Wood

These are matters for the Board of Trade. I think there may be further conversations on trade matters with the Poles.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Since some of the agreements under which Polish coal is being sold at dumping prices, purely because the Poles are desperately anxious to obtain currency, are with countries within the Seven, will the right hon. Gentleman talk to his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade?

Mr. Wood

I will certainly talk to my right hon. Friend.

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