§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy, what are the production costs of coal per ton for the most recent year for which figures are available, the value per ton subsidy that would be payable under Commission proposals relating to intra-Community trade in power station coal and the estimated gap between that sum and international prices generally.
§ Mr. EadieThe most recent published average cost of coal production is that for 1976–77 which was £18.87/ton (£18.57/tonne). The 1977–78 figure is not yet available but I understand it will be in the region of £21-£22/tonne. The Com-578W mission are proposing aid at the rate of 10eua/tonne (£6.70). There is no established level of international prices but I understand that the information being collected by the Commission under the surveillance scheme for power station coal disclose that in 1977 prices cif European ports varied between $29 and $40 per tonne. The gap would also depend upon transport and other costs.