§ Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the major electricity-intensive industries about preferential tariffs in European countries; and what indication he has that firms have transferred plant abroad to benefit from such tariffs.
§ Mr. John MooreI have received a number of representations concerning special tariff arrangements to help intensive electricity using industries in other EC
Typical fuel prices to industrial consumers All Prices in US dollars Steam Coal (per tonne)
1st quarter 1979 1st quarter 1980 1st quarter 1981 1st quarter 1982 4th quarter 1982 Belgium 28.97 30.05 27.14 48.34 NA Netherlands 38.92 56.52 61.89 74.36 NA Luxembourg NA NA NA NA NA Denmark 72.75 80.01 104.97 113.26 90.28 France NA NA NA NA NA F R Germany 87.45 96.36 100.45 99.03 97.04 Italy 39.00 53.75 65.00 73.60 NA Ireland NA NA 77.06 67.57 80.96 Greece NA NA NA NA NA UK 49.38 74.13 36.46 87.12 80.75 USA 34.80 37.48 40.22 42.20 46.40 Japan 39.35 43.91 59.09 66.35 NA 262W
Heavy fuel oil (per tonne)
1st quarter 1979 1st quarter 1980 1st quarter 1981 1st quarter 1982 4th quarter 1982 Belgium 88.00 170.00 237.98 181.30 183.31 Netherlands 104.48 179.56 228.13 201.33 196.92 Luxembourg 111.08 164.72 256.22 184.92 187.84 Denmark 103.21 175.72 244.42 203.73 203.07 France NA NA NA NA NA F R Germany 117.50 186.02 227.57 198.66 NA Italy 92.76 154.68 198.26 152.80 NA Ireland 142.31 218.74 214.00 241.34 234.29 Greece 81.38 101.60 168.24 186.25 NA UK 103.81 199.87 227.34 211.89 196.28 USA 94.11 174.56 215.76 198.67 195.00 Japan NA NA NA NA NA countries. Relative electricity prices are one of the factors which a firm may take into consideration is deciding where to site plant, but I have no evidence of firms transferring plant abroad on these grounds. Generally, industrial electricity prices in England and Wales are broadly in line with those elsewhere in the EC.