HC Deb 18 April 1921 vol 140 cc1545-6W
Mr. ARMITAGE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures of coal consumption in what is now France before the War and at the present time, stating its origin?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

The quantity of coal available for consumption in France (as now defined territorially) in the year 1913 was 71,064,000 metric tons, and in the year 1920, 59,296,000 tons. The quantity of coal actually consumed in 1913 was 73,236,000 tons. The source of origin of these supplies, so far as particulars are available, was as follow:

Year 1913. Year 1920.
Metric tons. Metric tons.
Home production 43,140,000 23,374,000
Imported from:—
Germany:
Sarre District Rest of Germany. 11,460,000* 6,059,000
12,345,000
Belgium. 4,399,000 1,302,000
United Kingdom 11,270,000 12,640,000
United States of America. 20,000 2,660,000
* Including 4,608,000 toes imported into Alsace-Lorraine the bulk of which is assumed to have been derived from Germany.

For the purpose of the above statement lignite and coke have been converted to their equivalents in coal.