§ Mr. Bowen Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the comparable costs of producing deep mined coal in each of the major coal-exporting countries including the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe estimated average pithead cost per tonne of coal from United Kingdom deep mines in 1983 was about £46. My Department has no firm information about the costs of coal production in most exporting countries; however information from published studies suggests that average production costs of similar coal produced at deep mines in Australia and the United States could be approximately £16–19 and £23–27 respectively. There is no evidence that coal production is subsidised in either of these countries.