HL Deb 03 April 1989 vol 505 c997WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the names of those countries exporting coal to the United Kingdom; what are the annual tonnages involved; and whether they have reason to believe that some countries are subsidising their coal exports.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy (Baroness Hooper)

The information requested for coal imports in 1988 by country of origin is as follows:

Country '000 Tonnes
USA 4,261
AUSTRALIA 3,536
POLAND 1,270
COLOMBIA 574
CANADA 553
USSR 375
CHINA 319
NETHERLANDS 279
SOUTH AFRICA 276
FR GERMANY 182
BELGIUM 122
OTHERS 247
TOTAL 11,993

N.B. Due to rounding, totals differ from the sum of constituent items.

The great majority of coal imports to the UK do not appear to be subsidised.