§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether sufficient coke will, so far as can be ascertained, be available to keep the blast furnaces in this country in full production, with the consequent avoidance of unemployment: and what are the reasons for the reported shortage of coke at the present moment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOX:I am satisfied that every effort is being made by suppliers of coke to meet inland requirements, and I understand that they are sanguine of being able to deal with the situation. The recent sharp increase in the demand for British coke is no doubt mainly caused by uncertainties about supplies from the Ruhr coalfield.