asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps will be taken in the interests of the consumer to keep the price of imported U.S. coal down to the present level of home-produced coal.

All imported coal will go into the pool for industrial and other consumers, according to the general scheme of allocations. The selling price of imported coal to the U.K. consumer will be negotiated commercially by the National Coal Board and the receivers concerned, in the light of ruling U.K. prices.

Is this coal which is being imported clean coal, or is it as dirty as British coal?

I am not prepared to concede that British coal is dirty. There is a great deal of it which is of good saleable quality. As regards United States coal, if it is of the variety sent to European countries, it may not be entirely up to our standards.

Major Roberts:

Will the Minister give an assurance that he will do everything he can to get from America, before next spring, up to 4 million tons of coal at the same price which other European countries are prepared to pay for a similar type of coal?

We have made our arrangements, through the United States authorities and the European Coal Organisation, for supplies to be made available. I am afraid that when the hon. and gallant Member speaks of 4 million tons of coal before the spring, he is allowing his imagination to run riot.

Major Roberts:

It is vitally urgent.

Is the Minister able to tell the House what he is doing to prevent the price of home-produced coal rising to the same price as imported coal?

If the hon. Member had listened to my reply, or had understood it, he would have realised that this American coal, when it is imported, is to be mixed with the home variety of coal in regard to price levels.