§ Mr. Lewis Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the type, the tonnage of each type, the cost, and the country of origin of imported coal; if he will take steps to prevent the importation of such coal where alternative, or acceptable alternative, types are available from the mining industry of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MooreThe table below gives the information requested for the period January to November 1980, the latest period for which figures are available. It is estimated that in 1981 the level of imports will fall by about 2 million tonnes. It is for the individual coal consumer to make his own decision on where to obtain supplies, in consultation with his suppliers.
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Coal imports into the United Kingdom: January to November 1980 Source: HM Customs and Excise. Steam coal Coking coal Anthracite Total Country of origin quantity value quantity value quantity value quantity value tonnes £ tonnes £ tonnes £ tonnes £ Federal Republic of Germany 226 15,618 — — 71,397 5,462,272 71,623 5,477,890 Netherlands 18,155 475,821 — — 3,549 226,590 21,704 702,411 Belgium/Luxembourg 2,983 85,683 — — 11,066 778,936 14,049 864,619 Ireland 40,087 1,330,887 — — 80 5,570 40,167 1,336,457 EEC 61,451 1,908,009 — — 86,092 6,473,368 147,543 8,351,377 United States of America 1,927,870 51,222,741 1,430,494 44,820,039 61,215 3,047,024 3,419,579 99,089,804 USSR — — — — 45,303 2,154,285 45,303 2,154,285 Poland 42,992 1,544,265 351,156 10,212,938 — — 394,148 11,757,203 Canada 2 1,768 — — 69 9,926 71 11,694 Australia 2,237,076 60,355,853 489,256 13,101,160 — — 276,332 73,457,013 South Africa 554 14,662 — — 53,091 2,143,994 53,645 2,158,656 Morocco — — — — 48,474 2,903,461 48,474 2,903,461 China 66,467 1,645,830 — — — — 66,467 1,645,830 Third countries 4,274,961 114,785,119 2,270,906 68,134,137 208,152 10,258,690 6,754,019 193,177,946 Total 4,336,412 116,693,128 2,270,906 68,134,137 294,244 16,732,058 6,901,562 201,559,323 January-December 1980 4,606,309 — 2,406,807 — 320,404 — 7,333,520 —