§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the rate of European Coal and Steel Community levy on production or sales of coal; what was the total amount collected in, respectively, England, Scotland and Wales in each of the past three years; and how much was received from the European Coal and. Steel Community in each of the three countries in each of these years.
§ Mr. John MooreThe European Coal and Steel Community levy on coal production is currently 0.31 per cent. of the value of production.
My Department estimates that the amount of levy attributable to coal production in England, Scotland and Wales respectiely has been as follows:
373W
ECSC Levy on Coal Production (£ million) 1979 1980 1981 England 6.2 6.2 70 Wales 0.6 0.6 0.7 Scotland 0.6 0.7 0.7 — — — United Kingdom Total 7.4 7.5 8.4 Information on receipts from the European Coal and Steel Community in respect of coal is available only for the United Kingdom as a whole, and is as follows:
ECSC grants to the United Kingdom coal industry (£ million) 1979 1980 1981 Readaptation Aid 7.9 3.7 3.8 Research and Development Grants 2.3 5.1 3.6 — — — Total 10.2 8.8 7.4 In addition, interest aid is given in some cases on loans to firms creating jobs for redundant mineworkers or steelworkers. For details of this aid I refer the hon. Member to the answer given him on 30 June by the Minister of State, Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont).—[Vol. 26, c. 304.]