§ Mr. McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total amount of coal imports from December, 1970, up to the miners' strike, and the total amount since the miners' strike, giving in each case the category, the average price per ton landed and the average price per ton retail.
§ Mr. EmeryImports for January to April, 1972, were 3 million tons, giving an annual rate of 9 million tons.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will consider ending coal imports on open general licence, in view of the adverse effects that coal imports are having on the discussions between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers on the need to increase productivity in British coal mines: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EmeryI have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's statement of 6th March.—[Vol. 832, c. 1033–9.]
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average price of imported coal so far during 1972 compared with the average price in 1971; and how this compared with average prices of home produced deep mined coal.
§ Mr. EmeryFollowing is the information:
Average value(c.i.f.)per ton of imported coal* United Kingdom pithead prices per ton(range) £ £ Year 1971 9.42 4.50–17.50 January to April 1972 9.66 4.50–19.00 * The average values quoted above are not true prices as they are influenced by varying qualities of coal, transport costs and other factors.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total tonnage of coal imported to date since he announced the ending of the coal import ban; and if he will list the exporting countries and the average costs of their coal exports to Great Britain.
§ Mr. EmeryFor the period December, 1970 to April, 1972, 7.2 million tons of coal were imported, and the average cif values per ton were:
540W
£ Norway … … … 21.64 West Germany … … … 18.46 Netherlands … … … 10.65 Belgium … … … 17.43 France … … … 14.07 Irish Republic … … … 10.23 Poland … … … 9.34
Czechoslovakia … 12.27 South Africa … 34.82 Australia … 8.57 Canada … 12.18 United States of America … 9.29 The average values quoted above are not true prices as they are influenced by varying qualities of coal, transport and other factors.