Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps have been taken to renew or to terminate contracts for the importation of coal into the United Kingdom for use by the National Coal Board, the Central Electricity Generating Board, the British Steel Corporation and National Smokeless Fuels, respectively.
§ Mr. EadieThe British Steel Corporation is in discussion with the National Coal Board about imports of coking coal into the United Kingdom, although none 331W of its current contracts come up for renewal in the immediate future.
As regards power station coal, as part of the scheme announced on 11th October under which the Central Electricity Generating Board will burn an additional 3 million tonnes of United Kingdom coal this winter, the CEGB is making alternative arrangements for the disposal of the steam coal under its Australian contract. The CEGB has agreed to consult me and the NCB before entering into any new contracts.
Coal is not imported for the use of National Smokeless Fuels or the NCB.