§ Mr. David Howellasked the Secretary of State for Energy what action is planned to build up coal stocks to the pre-October 1973 levels.
§ Mr. EadieThe National Coal Board is doing everything possible to increase supplies. We expect that industrial coal users, including the iron and steel industry, and coal traders will be able to build normal seasonal stocks by the end of the summer. The Central Electricity Generating Board and South of Scotland Electricity Board, in conjunction with the National Coal Board, will be building power station stocks as far as is possible, having regard to availability of coal and the scope for burning oil during the summer, but it will not be possible to achieve the high pre-October 1973 level of power station stocks.