§ 26 and 27. Mr. Bossomasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) how much coal Great Britain is arranging to purchase from the U.S.A.; and what is the price per ton that is being paid for this;
(2) how much per ton will have to be spent, in addition to the actual purchase price of the coal brought from the U.S.A., to provide for transport, handling and all other charges, before it is finally delivered in this country.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs regards the amount of coal to be purchased from the U.S.A. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question asked today by my hon. Friend the Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton). No contracts have yet been entered into regarding the supply of coal to the United Kingdom under the allocation. No firm estimate is, therefore, yet possible of the, cost of that coal or of the freight and other handling charges although estimates varying between £5 and £8 a ton have been mentioned.