§ Mr. A. HENDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there are many ships lying in the Forth awaiting coal cargoes for Continental ports, and that this demand is causing a home shortage and consequent rise in prices; and will he take steps to have home supplies secured and also to fix the price of same?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOX:I am aware that there is some congestion of shipping at the coal-loading ports on the Firth of Forth. But I have not received any corn-plaints from Scotland of difficulty in obtaining supplies of coal for inland use, and I cannot accept the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion that the position 523W is so acute as to warrant the proposal to establish by legislation the complex machinery of control.