HC Deb 10 November 1975 vol 899 cc909-11
12. Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how Great Britain's exports of coal in 1975 compare with exports in the last five years; and whether he is satisfied that Great Britain is sufficiently exploiting its coal resources.

Mr. Eadie

Exports of coal and coal products in 1975 are expected to be well above the average for the previous five years. The industry's Plan for Coal, involving expenditure of about £1,400 million at 1974 prices over the next 10 years, represents the maximum development of the country's coal reserves that we think is feasible, but the NCB is continuing with an active programme of exploration.

Mr. Hannam

I ask the Minister to give the actual figures for the increase in exports. It does not help very much if we do not get them. Does he agree that countries such as Poland and the United States are increasing their production and exports of coal quite dramatically but that we have not achieved the same improvement? Does he also agree that increased productivity in the coal industry could result in the industry's becoming a major exporter? What are the Government doing to achieve the kind of productivity increases that we were led to expect would result from the large pay increases of the past two years?

Mr. Eadie

As the hon. Gentleman will probably have noticed, for the past three weekends I have been devoting some time to the question how we can build up an export market for the future. The economies of other countries are undergoing a depression. However, as the hon. Gentleman wanted figures, I can say that 90 per cent. of our coal trade is with the EEC. In 1974–75 it was valued at £60 million. Further, the EEC has predicted that in the next decade there should be an expansion in coal exports of about 20 million tons.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Does my hon. Friend realise that there is deep concern in the South Wales coalfields at the fact that large coal stocks are being built up there? When one hears that coal is being imported there is anxiety, which might well affect productivity in the mines. Will my hon. Friend consult the NCB with a view to there being a drive to export the coal being produced? It could make a major contribution to the balance of payments.

Mr. Eadie

That is precisely what I have been doing over the past two or three weekends. My right hon. Friend and I are meeting the National Union of Mineworkers this week to discuss some of these problems. Imports of coal are on short-term contracts, and when those contracts expire it is unlikely that we shall import any more coal.

Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilson

Is the Minister aware that the Opposition congratulate him on what he is doing to encourage exports but that in the EEC 30 per cent. of all the imported coal comes from behind the Iron Curtain? We, as members of that organisation, ought to start using our elbows to see whether we can sell more of our coal in Europe rather than rely on the Russians and the Poles.

Mr. Eadie

I could not agree more with the hon. Gentleman. That is the message I have been giving to the mining industry for a considerable time. I believe that there is capacity, not only in Europe but in the rest of the world, for exporting coal, and I hope that the mining industry and the National Coal Board see that potential, particularly when the world starts its upturn in economic activity.