Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the average level of Government subsidy per tonne of deep-mined coal in each year since 1973(a) for each of the United Kingdom coal fields, (b) for England, (c) for Wales, (d) for Scotland and (e) for the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerGovernment grants accrued in British Coal's accounts in each year since 1978-/79 are set out in the table:
Year Government Grants Deep-mined Production Grant per tonne £ million million tonnes £/tonne 1978–79 172 107.8 1.60 1979–80 251 109.3 2.30 1980–81 254 110.3 2.30 1981–82 575 108.9 5.28 1982–83 520 104.9 4.96 1983–84 1,145 90.1 12.71 1984–85 2,414 27.7 87.15 1985–86 563 88.4 6.37 1986–87 882 88.0 10.02 Grants are not given to specific areas or coalfields, so it is not possible to provide the other information requested.