HC Deb 17 May 1976 vol 911 c322W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of third country coal imports by Great Britain's eight partners in the EEC.

Mr. Eadie

Published figures show that imports of coal by our EEC partners totalled 35 million tons in 1975. An estimate prepared by the Commission suggests that even if Community coal production can be maintain at its present overall level imports of third country coal are likely to have to rise to 50 million tons a year by 1985.