§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many tons of coal were imported and exported, respectively, over each of the past 10 years; and what are the estimated figures for the years 1975 and 1976.
§ Mr. EadieStatistics on imports and exports of coal are published in Tables 15 and 100 respectively of the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1975", copies of which have been placed in the Library; I am sending my hon. Friend an extract containing the relevant tables.
Imports and exports of coal are subject to a wide range of factors which are difficult to quantify. However, the latest estimates of imports and exports of coal are 5.3 million tons and 2.4 million tons respectively. It is not at this stage possible to give any meaningful estimates for 1976. Imports should, however, decline from the 1975 level as contracts entered into at the time of 1974 shortage are completed.