§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the cost of transporting imported coal from port of entry to power stations; and what percentage of the total price at the port of entry this represents.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerTransport costs, which vary widely depending on distance and other factors, are a commercial matter for those importing coal.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much foreign coal has been imported into(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland in each year of the last five years.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAvailable information for the five years commencing 1984 is as follows:
Imports of Foreign Coal Thousand tonnes Destination 1984 1985 1986 1987 January-November 1988 United Kingdom 8,894 12,732 10,554 9,781 10,755 Scotland 1,097 1,650 1,174 1,269 1,655 Source. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise (port of entry basis).