§ 2. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Power if he is aware that British steel works pay £7 a ton for coking coal whereas the European steelmakers are buying equivalent fuel from the United States of America below £5 10s. per ton; and if he will, in consultation with the National Coal Board, take steps to remove this handicap to British exports of steel.
§ Mr. WoodI am anxious to do all I can to encourage exports, but the figures quoted apply only to some British coking coal and a small proportion of the coking coal used in Europe. Exact comparison is difficult, but I do not believe that there is much difference between coking coal prices generally in Europe and in this country.