§ Mr. CAIRNSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many ships are laying in the Tyne, North-East Coast, owing to a shortage of exporting coal, and have been for some time; whether he is aware that many of these men were from torpedoed ships; and if he will put more coal on the Tyne for export?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am aware that there is not sufficient coal available for export to provide cargoes for all the ships which are sent to the Tyne to load coal. As I have repeatedly explained, it is necessary to restrict export if home supplies are to be safeguarded, and I am satisfied that the existing export restriction cannot at present be safely relaxed.