§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current market for coal in Scotland in millions of tons, in power station generation, industrial and domestic; and what is the export growth.
§ Mr. EadieDisposals in Scotland in 1975–76 for the 10 months to the end of January were:
Power stations 6.5 million tons Industry and Miscellaneous 0.75 million tons Domestic 1 million tons Ninety-three per cent. of Scottish-produced coal is sold in Scotland, most 200W of the rest being supplied to Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many new boreholes in the search for new coal reserves in Scotland have been carried out during the last two years; and if he will list the location and the capital cost involved.
§ Mr. EadieDuring the past two years five deep boreholes have been drilled in the Firth of Forth at a cost of just under £500,000 to explore the potential of a new area of coal reserves near Musselburgh, in Midlothian.
§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what projects are envisaged for new coal sinking in Scotland; and if he will list the location.
§ Mr. EadieDrilling is under way in Scotland as part of a national exploration programme to locate and prove new reserves of coal to replace the loss of capacity owing to exhaustion of reserves at existing collieries. Decisions on the areas of new reserves to be exploited will be governed by the economics of mining in those areas, the type and quality of coal proved and the anticipated pattern of future demand. The National Coal Board has not yet taken any decision on new sinkings in Scotland.