§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what tonnage of coking coal will be required to sustain an annual United Kingdom pig iron production of 15 million tons and 20 million tons.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallI have been asked to reply.
To sustain United Kingdom pig iron production at 15 million tonnes a year would require some 14 million tonnes of coking coal. There is insufficient capacity at blast furnaces in the United Kingdom to sustain pig iron production at a level of 20 million tonnes a year.