§ Mr. Cunliffeasked the Secretary of State for Trade how much coal was imported during the first nine months of 1981 by country of origin; and what was the average price per tonne of coal imported from each country.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 16 November 1981 c.17]: The available information is as follows:
United Kingdom Imports of Coal, Jan-Feb and September 1981 Average value per Tonnes tonne (£ c.i.f) Total of which consigned from: 1,042,454 34.30 Australia 580,069 31.04 USA 380,397 33.16 Federal Republic of Germany 34,790 78.33 South Africa 26,148 41.07 Netherlands 8,115 63.50 Morocco 7,160 71.23 Belgium-Luxembourg 3,584 49.83 Irish Republic 1,328 58.72 Sweden 780 62.18 France 83 57.02 Notes (a) Corresponding information by country of origin could be provided only at disproportionate cost, and would identify the country of production if the coal were subsequently processed elsewhere, for example, washed, screened and graded.
(b) Values per tonne, derived from the Overseas Trade Statistics, are not true prices; they are influenced by differences in the type and quality of the coal imported.
(c) Figures quoted correspond to SITC (R2) Sub-groups 322. 1 and 322.2 in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.
(d) Figures for the months March to August 1981 inclusive are not yet available, and are not incorporated in the above table.