§ Mr. LAWSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet received the answer of the German Government to his representations with respect to discrimination against Britain in their quota restrictions on coal exported to Germany; and, if so, will he state the nature of the answer?
§ Mr. COLVILLEYes, Sir. The German reply cannot be considered satisfactory, but it makes certain proposals which are now under consideration.
§ Mr. LAWSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is discrimination against this country when licences are being granted by the French Government for the import of coal from Britain to France; and what steps he proposes in order to gain equality of treatment for this country?
§ Mr. COLVILLEAs the House has already been informed, the French quota restrictions apply to coal imported from all countries, but the method of operating the quota and the administration of the licensing system are considered to be inequitable to this country, and representations to that effect have been made to the French Government. I understand that the question of improving the machinery for the distribution of the licences is under consideration by the coal trade interests in France and in this country.