HC Deb 06 July 1981 vol 8 cc9-10W
21. Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the anticipated increase in the consumption of coal is large enough to absorb further increases in production.

Mr. John Moore

Coal's future lies in the industry's ability to compete in the market. What matters is not any particular forecast of an uncertain future, but the efforts of everyone in the industry to find and retain markets, by imroving productivity, containing costs and keeping prices competitive.