HC Deb 19 May 1975 vol 892 cc231-4W
Mr. Albert Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the amount of financial aid from the EEC, if any, to finance research into the various uses of coal which has been received over the past three years by the National Coal Board or the Ministry for Energy.

Mr. John Smith

I understand that the National Coal Board has so far secured ECSC research grants totalling about £2.4 million for work on coal utilisation projects. No such grants have been sought or received by my Department.

Mr. Woodall

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the levels of coal held in stock by the Central Electricity Generating Board at the end of April 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Mr. Varley

The following are the figures:

million tons
End of April 1973 14.4
End of April 1974 7.9
End of April 1975 12.4

Mr. Woodall

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken to increase the sale of coal to overseas buyers; and in what countries.

Mr. Varley

Production and productivity have both shown encouraging improvements in recent months but our supply position does not yet enable the National Coal Board to increase its exports substantially. The board is, however, maintaining close contact with its traditional markets, which are mainly in Western Europe, so as to be in a position to expand its overseas trade as soon as it is able to do so.

Mr. Woodall

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the total levels of distributed and undistributed stocks of coal held at the end of April 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Mr. Varley

This information, in respect of Great Britain, is published in Table 60 of theMonthly Digest of Statistics and Table 8 of Energy Trends, available in the Library of the House. For convenience, the following are the figures:

COAL STOCKS
(Million tons)
Distributed* Undistributed
End April 1973 18.5 12.5
End April 1974 10.7 8.0
End April 1975 16.4 5.6
*Excluding stocks held in merchants' yards etc., mainly for the domestic market, and stocks held by industry.

Mr. Woof

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the output of deep-mined coal in the first quarter of 1975; and how this compares with the first quarter of 1974;

(2) what was the total output of deep-mined coal for 1974; and how this compares with output in 1973;

(3) what was the output of opencast coal in 1974; and how this compares with the output in 1973;

(4) what was the amount of coal supplies to power stations, general industry and the domestic market in 1974, respectively.

Mr. Varley

This information is contained in Tables 5 and 7 of the April issues ofEnergy Trends published by my Department and available in the Library of the House. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Mr. Woof

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the output per manshift in the first quarter of 1975; and how this compares with the output per manshift in the first quarter of 1974.

Mr. Varley

The average output per manshift, overall, in National Coal Board mines during the first quarter of 1975 was 46.3 cwts. compared with 34.7 cwts. in the same period a year ago, when output was affected by an overtime ban and national strike.

Mr. Woof

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total tonnage and value of coal exported by the National Coal Board in each of the last five years.

Mr. Varley

Figures on the tonnage and value of coal exported are published in the "Digest of UK Energy Statistics" (Table 108). For convenience the figures for the latest five years are given below. Exports other than by the National Coal Board are negligible.

Million tons £ million
1970 3.3 17.5
1971 2.7 13.2
1972 1.7 9.7
1973 2.7 15.2
1974 1.8 20.8

Mr. Woof

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the value of import savings on coal production since the joint bonus scheme came into operation.

Mr. Varley

During the first quarter of 1975 coal output was 1.2 million tons above the bonus target. It is calculated that this would be equivalent to about £26 mililon cif worth of crude oil imports.

Mr. Woof

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current price of coal over the price of oil consumed in the electricity industry.

Mr. Varley

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 12th May.

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