§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Secretary for Mines if he can give the estimated surplus stocks of coal in all the coal-producing countries of Europe?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXThe latest available information is as follows:
Germany.— About 10,000,000 (metric) tons were reported to be held at the end of June at collieries in the Ruhr or by the Ruhr Coal Syndicate. Coke formed some part of these stocks.
Belgium.—At the end of May 1.8 million (metric) tons were held at collieries. Since then stocks have increased and probably exceed 2,000,000 tons at the present time.
Czechoslovakia.—In February, 1925, nearly 300,000 (metric) tons of coal were held at the pits.
Russia.—In February, 1925, the stocks of coal at the mines were 2.03 million (metric) tons.
I regret that information about other coalfields is not available.