§ Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing the imports of coal and solid fuels for each of the years from 1971, indicating the types of fuel, the countries of origin and the relevant values.
§ Mr. EadieThis information is available in the appropriate publications—"Annual Statement of Overseas Trade of the United Kingdom" for the years from 1971 to 1974 and for the years 1975 and 1976 in the "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom" December 5W 1975 and the Annual issue of 1976 (Table III). The relevant item is SITC(R) subgroup 321. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing the anticipated or planned imports of coal and solid fuels for the year 1977–78 showing the types, countries of origin and the expected values.
§ Mr. EadieIt is not possible at this stage to give precise estimates for the year 1977–78. However, on the basis of current trends expectations are that total imports of coal and other solid fuels in 1977–78 might be slightly higher than last year when they amounted to 2.6 million tons. Detailed figures for the period January to October 1977 are published in the October 1977 issue of theOverseas Trade Statistics, which is available in the Library of the House.