§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the extent of new coal reserves discovered in the United Kingdom within the last five years that can be exploited by extending the workings of existing mines; and to what extent exploitation of those reserves is being undertaken.
§ Mr. EadieBetween April 1972 and April 1975 there was a net reduction in reserves at existing mines, classified as economically recoverable under existing market conditions with existing technology, of 30 million tonnes—from 3,732 million tonnes to 3,702 million tonnes. This takes account of extraction, new provings and reclassification due to changing market conditions and further geological information. The assessment of reserves classified after 1975 has not yet been completed but is expected to show an increase in this total.
Exploitation of these reserves is taking place under Plan for Coal, which foresees the creation of additional capacity at existing mines to produce about 22 million tonnes per annum by the mid-eighties.