§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the increase in energy demand in Great Britain in each of the next 10 years expressed in tons of coal equivalent.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanWhile my Department keeps energy demand under continuous review, the issues involved are subject to great uncertainty and change, and it would not be helpful to publish estimates out of the contexts in which they were prepared.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent his latest estimates of demand for British-produced coal over the next 10 years take account of the European Coal and Steel Community's need for a steady supply in furtherance of a common energy policy.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanDemand for National Coal Board coal over the next decade will depend primarily on the competitive performance of the industry. The United Kingdom Government will ensure that proper weight is given to coal in the current discussions on energy within the Community.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will promote discussions in the European Community's Council of Ministers of long-term fuel policy with particular emphasis on the rôle of coal.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe Council of Ministers is discussing energy policy on 22nd May. The Government will seek to ensure that proper emphasis is given to the rôle of coal.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has studied 8W the report "Coal and Energy Policy in Europe", produced jointly by the National Coal Board and trade unions; and if he will take steps to implement the recommendation therein that his national fuel policy should be based chiefly on the use of indigenous fuels.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThis is a very useful report, which I and my Department have studied with interest. It is certainly our intention to make the optimum use of all our indigenous energy resources, as the Coal Industry Act helps us to do in the case of coal.