§ 36. Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of Great Britain's coal production needs for each year to 1985.
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§ Mr. Tom Boardman:The general pattern of likely energy requirements, including the prospects for coal, is kept under constant review, but I do not think it would be helpful to publish estimates which can quickly become out of date as circumstances change.
§ 51. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a general direction to the Coal Board to increase the proportion of coal mined from opencast mines.
§ Mr. Tom Boardman:No. The National Coal Board is fully aware of the importance of opencast coal production but in granting authorisation for particular sites it is my responsibility, under the Opencast Coal Act, 1958, to have regard for the preservation of amenity.
§ 58. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of coal requirements for 1972 and estimated United Kingdom output; what is the deficit he estimates by subtracting output from requirements; and thus how much coal in millions of tons he estimates will be imported.
§ Mr. Tom Boardman:Before the dispute, the annual rate of coal production was close to 150 million tons, but strike losses will bring output well below that level in 1972. Consumption and stocks have also been affected. It would not be helpful to publish estimates which must be subject to considerable uncertainty. Imports will depend on decisions by importers and the requirements of consumers.