HC Deb 14 January 1980 vol 976 cc1196-7
14 Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what response he proposes to make to representations made on the import of coal and coal products.

Mr. John Moore

My right hon. Friend discussed British Steel's plans to import more coking coal with the chairman of the National Coal Board and the mining unions on 18 December. The board is having further discussions with the BSC.

Mr. Evans

Is the Minister aware that the Welsh coalfields supply 2½ million tons of coking coal to the steel industry in Wales and that the threatened partial or total closures at Llanwern and Port Talbot and the fact that the BSC is negotiating to double its imports will have a devastating effect on the Welsh coalfields and that half the demand for coking coal will be lost?

Will the Minister intervene in the discussions? As we are giving £1,000 million to the Common Market, will the Government give some millions to subsidise coking coal, so that it does not have to be imported?

Mr. Moore

The two nationalised industries are still in discussion and the Government have made clear that no further financial assistance can be provided, but within the large amounts of taxpayers' money already provided to the coal industry we have given permission for the payment of coking coal grants. The matter is still under discussion between the two nationalised industry boards.

Mr. Eadie

Is there not a need for the Government to provide the House with more information? We are told by the press that the BSC made a miscalculation of about £4 per ton on the comparison between the cost of British coal and foreign coal. Since the Minister and the Government are custodians of the coal industry and the miners, should they not make a statement about how they intend to protect the future of our indigenous coking coal resources, and in consequence, mining jobs?

Mr. Moore

The Government have made clear their commitment to the long-term commercial and profitable success of our nationalised coal industry. However, the Government have also made clear that considerable sums of taxpayers' money have already been advanced. Within that money, permission has been granted to pay coking coal subsidies. It is up to the NCB to further its discussions with the BSC.