Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Falkland Islands are at the present moment short of coal, and that a licence to export coal to these islands has been refused; and if he will state why it is necessary for a licence to be granted for exporting coal to British possessions like the Falkland Islands whilst shipments can be made to Ireland without any licence?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI understand that the hon. Member refers to a recent proposal to export coal to the Falkland 887W Islands from the Mersey. I regret that no exception can be made to the restriction on the export of coal from the Mersey, which it has been found necessary to impose in view of the acute shortage of household and industrial fuel in Lancashire and the adjoining areas. The requirements of the United Kingdom must necessarily come before shipments abroad, even to British Possessions.