§ 22. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Minister of Power what coal equivalent is represented by estimated North Sea gas of £15 million landed in 1968–69, £36 million in 1969–70 and £62 million in 1970–71; what part of total contracts for North Sea gas these landings represent; what further contracts ad valorem a year for North Sea gas are still to be made; and whether he will make a statement on progress to date.
§ Mr. FreesonAbout 4, 10 and 18 million tons of coal equivalent respectively. Supplies under present 25-year contracts are expected to rise to about 40 million tons of coal equivalent a year by 1975. Contracts for further supplies, equivalent to 3 to 4 million tons a year, have still to be signed.
§ Sir G. NabarroDo those figures represent an accelerated run-down of the coal mines, or is the position as it was when the abortive White Paper was published and subsequently withdrawn?
§ Mr. FreesonI wish that the hon. Gentleman would stop talking nonsense about the White Paper. As we have stated time and again in the House and elsewhere, it never has been withdrawn. In reply to his question about the effect on the coal industry, there is no reason for us to change our judgment in the White Paper that the impact of natural gas supplies will be chiefly in the area of the oil industry and not coal.