§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning his discussions with British Coal and the power generators on the provision of British Coal mined coal for the generating market prior to the announced closure of 31 coal mines.
§ Mr. EggarAs my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made clear to the House on 19 October,Official Report, columns 205–7, he was advised by British Coal before the closures were announced of the need to end production at the pits concerned in order to bring supply in line with demand.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the recent planning application by British Coal to demolish certain buildings at Easington colliery while this colliery is in the review procedure.
§ Mr. EggarI understand that British Coal made an application on 15 October to demolish certain buildings at Easington colliery; and that following my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade's announcement on 19 October of a moratorium in respect of 21 pits, which include Easington, British Coal has suspended further action in respect of this application.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the mining consultants Boyd's was requested to assess the viability of the 10 collieries currently in the review process and due to close in January 1993; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarLast year John T. Boyd Company was asked to assess the viability of 28 collieries, chosen by British Coal on a representative basis. Of the collieries studied, five are among the 10 collieries which have subsequently become subject to statutory consultation. The five pits are Betws, Parkside, Trentham, Grimethorpe and Houghton Main.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount of opencast coal produced in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. EggarThe total amount of opencast coal produced since 1979 was as follows:724W
Opencast production Year Thousand tonnes 1979 12,862 1980 15,779 1981 14,828 1982 15,266 1983 14,706 1984 14,306 1985 15,569 1986 14,275 1987 15,786 1988 17,899 1989 18,657 1990 18,134 1991 18,620 Source: Table 12 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1992.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of coal from deep mine operations in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. EggarThe amount of deep-mined coal produced during the last five years was as follows:
Year Opencast production (thousand tonnes) 1987 15,786 1988 17,899 1989 18,657 1990 18,134 1991 18,620 Source: Table 12 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1992.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of coal from deep mine operations in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. EggarThe amount of deep-mined coal produced during the last five years was as follows:
Year Deep-mined production (thousand tonnes) 1987 85,957 1988 83,762 1989 79,628 1990 72,899 1991 73,357 Source: Table 12 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1992.