§ 17. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to offset the increase in price of coal imported into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonNone, Sir. Pricing is a matter for the coal trade. I expect prices to fall when normal supplies are resumed.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the Minister aware that The Daily Telegraph, the Tory house magazine, of 21 August 1984 states that the people of Northern Ireland are having to pay £10 a tonne extra for domestic coal because they can no longer get cheap supplies from Britain? What is all the nonsense that we have heard for the past two years, with the Government saying that there is cheap coal abroad if only we could get at it? The truth is that the people of Northern Ireland, as well as the people in Great Britain, are having to suffer because of the Government's stupid policy of trying to run down British pits while importing dearer coal from abroad.
§ Dr. BoysonI am sure that the whole House will welcome the news that the hon. Gentleman is a regular reader of The Daily Telegraph. One of the problems with coal supplies for Northern Ireland is that long-term contracts are made with the NCB but at present coal is having to be bought on spot markets round the world. Long-term contracts are not being made, so that coal can once again be bought from the NCB. The hon. Gentleman should welcome that.