asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the present position in regard to supplies by the British National Coal Board of coal, anthracite and phurnacite to this country, (b) the terms of any trading arrangement between this country and Great Britain to ensure adequate supplies of these fuels, and (c) whether he is aware that certain long established traders have failed to secure an allocation of anthracite in addition to coal from the British National Coal Board, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Supplies.
As a result of special representations which I made to the National Coal Board some months ago I succeeded in obtaining substantial increases in the allocations of general purposes coal and anthracite for the current year ending 31st March, 1956. The allocation of general purposes coal this year is 830,000 tons as compared with 730,000 tons for last year. The allocation of anthracite is 35,000 tons as compared with 20,000 tons for last year. I also arranged that a greater proportion of the supplies would be imported before the onset of the winter season and I have pressed the coal merchants to ensure that a part of the supplies which would normally not be imported until the first quarter of 1956 will in fact be imported before the end of the calendar year.
Present indications are that supplies of general purposes coal will be adequate to meet requirements. Notwithstanding the increased allocation of imported anthracite and a substantial increase in home production, it will be necessary to supplement supplies by additional imports of phurnacite which, I am informed, is a satisfactory substitute for anthracite. The National Coal Board has undertaken to make the best possible effort to make the necessary additional supplies of phurnacite available and there has already been an appreciable increase in imports of this fuel.
Under the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreements of 1938 and 1948 the British Government has undertaken to provide annually a specified minimum supply of coal and to make every effort to meet any demand in excess of that minimum.
As regards the last part of the Deputy's question, my concern has been to secure that the total supply of anthracite allotted to this country is increased but the question of allocations for any particular trader is a matter for arrangement by the trader concerned through the usual trade channels.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether American coal imported into this country is being purchased through the British National Coal Board, and, if so, why; further, if he will arrange to have such coal purchased direct by Irish importers.
When the British National Coal Board agreed to increase the total supply of general purposes coal to this country for this year to 830,000 tons as compared with 730,000 tons for last year, they intimated that of the total, 60,000 tons would have to be supplied in the form of American coal, of which 30,000 tons would be at the same price as British coal and 30,000 tons at the cost price to the board. I am not prepared to propose an alteration of these arrangements in favour of the arrangements suggested by the Deputy as this would involve an increase in the landed price of the coal.
Are we to take it from the Minister's reply that there is an American preferential to Britain which they would not give to this country?
The only thing the Deputy is to take is that the British will supply us with 100,000 tons additional of general purposes coal; 60,000 tons of that are American. We are getting 30,000 tons at the British price, though the British are paying more for it, and the other 30,000 tons are coming in at the price at which the British are able to buy that coal from America. If we were to adopt the suggestion made by the Deputy the whole 60,000 tons would be bought in America at a higher price and consumers in Cork would, therefore, have to pay more for their coal. I am not going to allow that.
Mr. Lemass
Would the Minister explain why it would cost more if imported direct? Am I to understand that the British Coal Board is subsidising American coal?
Is not that clear from the answer I have given?
They are getting very fond of us!
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what is the present position in regard to coal stocks in Cork City; if adequate supplies will be available for the coming months, and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to deal with the matter.
As a result of increased allocations of coal by the British National Coal Board for the current year, I have been assured by the coal importing merchants that they are satisfied that adequate supplies will be available in Cork City, and all other areas, for the coming months.
To guard against any temporary shortage of coal this winter, I arranged that coal merchants would import a greater proportion of supplies before the onset of the winter season.