HC Deb 21 March 1977 vol 928 cc360-1W
Mr. James Lamond

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he has taken to implement the proposals in the Helsinki Final Act to organise co-operation between the signatory powers in the use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas and coal and the rational use of power stations.

Mr. Benn

The Final Act of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe considers that the field of energy resources, in particular petroleum, natural gas and coal, is suitable for strengthening long-term economic co-operation, and that there is the possibility for joint projects including the exchange of electrical energy within Europe with a view to utilising the capacity of electrical power stations as rationally as possible. As emphasised in the Final Act there is already much work done by relevant international organisations and it was the wish of all signatories to take advantage of the possibilities offered by these organisations, and particularly by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) for giving effect to the provisions of the final documents of the Conference. The United Kingdom already participates fully in international co-operation in the areas mentioned and Her Majesty's Government has been co-operating with the Secretariat of the ECE in its efforts to pursue further international collaboration on suitable projects.

PRODUCTION OF HARD COAL
1,000 tonnes
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
United Kingdom
Scotland 9,849 10,517 8,677 9,945 9,434
Northern 15,187 16,450 12,876 14,940 13,401
Yorkshire 30,461 33,931 28,049 32,766 31,033
North Western 10,653 12,382 10,874 12,390 11,568
South Wales 9,545 9,202 7,386 8,752 7,987
Midlands 31,940 35,990 30,901 37,258 36,256
Kent 767 905 647 730
Licensed mines 678 654 578 625 582
Opencast 10,439 10,123 9,230 10,413 11,943
Total 119,519 130,154 109,218 127,819 122,204
Federal Republic of Germany 108,690 103,654 101,484 99,161 96,325
France 29,763 25,682 22,895 22,414 21,879
Italy 151 5 4 2 2
Belgium 10,500 8,842 8,111 7,478 7,238
Netherlands 2,942 1,829 801
Ireland 75 64 68 48 53
OUTPUT PER MANSHIFT*
Kilograms
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
United Kingdom
Scotland 2,950 2,984 2,863 2,893 2,894
Northern 2,738 2,832 2,604 2,879 2,728
Yorkshire 4,067 4,154 3,709 3,840 3,731
North Western 3,097 3,325 3,460 3,259 3,345
South Wales 2,386 2,200 2,080 2,068 2,163
Midlands 4,446 4,514 4,338 4,468 4,217
Kent 2,101 2,446 2,042 1,870
Licensed mines .. .. .. .. ..
Opencast .. .. .. .. ..
Total 3,460 3,643 3,350 3,493 3,406
Federal Republic of Germany 4,249 4,321 4;196 4,062 4,151
France 2,709 2,767 2,799 2,761 2,785
Italy 2,801 .. .. .. ..
Belgium 2,638 2,555 2,597 2,426 2,524
Netherlands 3,276 3,809 4,219
Ireland .. .. .. .. ..
* Average output per manshift of all underground workers except under-officials.
.. Not available.