§ 80. Mr. H. Fraserasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what shortfall there has been in deliveries of British coal to Eire; what complaints his Department has received about its quality; whether he is aware that Eire is now increasing its purchases of coal from the Saar and 56W Poland; and what steps he proposes to take in this matter.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerThere has been no shortfall in the shipments of coal to the Irish Republic. In the first quarter of this year, 400,000 tons of coal and patent fuel were sent there; this is at the annual rate provided in the trade agreement with the Irish Republic; it is 40,000 tons more than were sent in the first quarter of 1949. I have received no complaints about the quality of the coal. Irish buyers have recently arranged to buy some coal from Poland and the Saar; but the proposed purchases are very small, and are less than were imported from Poland a year ago.