§ Mr. Cunliffeasked the Secretary of State for Trade how much coal was imported in the year ended 30 September, by country of origin; and what was the average price per tonne of coal imported from each country.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1980]: The available information is as follows:
Tonnes Average value per tonne £s cif Total of which consigned from: 7,591,652 29.62 Australia 3,295,835 27.12 United States of America 3,252,302 30.03 Poland 504,916 29.73 China 124,766 25.23 Federal Republic of Germany 99,567 63.16 Irish Republic 58,528 32.56 Soviet Union 57,797 44.36 Morocco 57,570 57.96 South Africa 54,128 40.17 Netherlands 50,170 34.16 Belgium-Luxembourg 36,029 46–62 India 44 74.30 Notes:
- (a) Corresponding information by country of origin could be provided only at disproportionate cost, and would not identify the country of production if the coal was subsequently processed elsewhere (eg washed, screened and graded).
- (b) Values per tonne, derived from the Overseas Trade Statistics, are not true prices; they are influenced by differences in the type and quality of the coal imported.
- (c) Figures quoted correspond to SITC(R2) Sub-groups 322.1 and 322.2 in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.