§ 33. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make further efforts to ensure that European Coal and Steel Community arrangements are such as to secure improved markets for British coal in Western Europe.
§ Mr. EadieThe Community treaty precludes restrictions on trade in coal within the Community and there are no barriers on exports to other countries in Western Europe. In 1975 we exported over 3½ million tons of coal and coal products to Western Europe, a level that compares well with previous years.
Under Community energy policy guidelines there is an arrangement, in which we participate, for the regular monitoring of coal imports from third countries with a view to seeing that they do not unfairly displace indigenous coal.