asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state whether any negotiations have taken place for the purpose of obtaining our import requirements of steam coal for the year 1941, and, if so, if he will state the bodies conducting these negotiations, and whether any conclusions have been come to as to the quantity likely to be imported.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Coal.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state whether any negotiations have taken place for the purpose of obtaining our import requirements of household coal for the year 1941, and, if so, if he will state the bodies conducting these negotiations, and whether any conclusions have been come to as to the quantity likely to be imported.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. Discussions take place from time to time between my Department and the British Mines Department about problems arising in connection with supplies of coal for this country. The Deputy will, however, appreciate that in present circumstances it is not practicable to make any arrangement on which we could rely with confidence as regards our supplies of coal for the year 1941.
Can the Minister say if any particular things have shown themselves as being the cause of that?
There are physical difficulties affecting the production and transport of coal in Great Britain which may become more acute in the course of the year.
Both with regard to the production of coal and transport?
Both as regards the production of coal and transport.
Could the Minister say if he has been specifically informed by the British Mines Department that that is so?
Undoubtedly, and difficulties relating to the supply of coal have arisen in Great Britain as the Deputy may have learned from reports in the Press; difficulties due almost entirely to transport. In our case the difficulty has been more acute in respect of those areas in Great Britain from which we ordinarily drew coal that was used here. I should like to take this opportunity to state that we cannot hope to get the same type of coal that we ordinarily purchased in Great Britain, and users of coal in this country will have to be satisfied with whatever types we can get. There are some areas in which the difficulties are not as great as in others, and it is on these areas we have to rely for supplies of coal in future.
Might I inquire whether it is not true that there are substantial stores of household coal in this country at present and that the necessity for any panic buying or charging does not arise?
There are substantial supplies of various classes of coal in the country. The difficulties which arose recently relate almost entirely to household coal and required the imposition of restrictions upon the sale of household coal. There is no reason why, with a proper conservation of the available supplies, the possibility of a shortage in the immediate future should not be avoided.