HC Deb 09 November 1989 vol 159 cc766-7W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the total of coal exported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74(a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices;

(2) what was the total of coal imported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices;

(3) what was the total of oil and gas exported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices;

(4) what was the total of oil and gas imported by the United Kingdom in each year since 1973–74 (a) in tonnes and (b) in value at constant prices;

Mr. Wakeham

The information for exports and imports for each year since 1973 is shown in table 1 (volumes) and table 2 (values at constant 1985 prices). Gas is natural gas (there are no exports), and oil is the sum of crude oil and refined petroleum products:—

Table 1
Thousand tonnes
Exports (f.o.b.) Imports (c.i.f.)
Coal Oil Coal Gas (coal equivalent) Oil
1973 2,693 19,882 1,675 1,200 135,862
1974 1,865 16,183 3,541 1,000 129,164
1975 2,182 15,079 5,083 1,300 103,174
1976 1,436 19,907 2,837 1,600 102,994
1977 1,941 30,483 2,439 2,100 84,832
1978 2,266 37,415 2,352 6,700 80,139
1979 2,339 53,172 4,375 12,600 73,890
1980 4,042 54,517 7,334 15,400 58,890
1981 9,513 66,740 4,290 16,400 47,437
1982 7,387 74,812 4,062 15,600 45,456
1983 6,340 84,157 4,456 16,600 40,120
1984 2,440 92,236 8,894 20,200 53,480
1985 2,558 98,511 12,732 20,100 51,877
1986 2,748 102,309 10,554 18,800 55,471
1987 2,342 99,165 9,781 17,300 53,590
1988 1,737 89,078 11,993 15,500 53,995

Source: Customs and Excise, Overseas Trade Statistics as published in D. Energy, Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics. (The 1988 oil exports figure reflects subsequent revisions.)

Table 2
£ million at 1985 prices1
Exports (f.o.b.) Imports (c.i.f.)
Coal Oil Coal Gas Oil
1973 104 3,682 90 90 21,917
1974 72 3,031 189 75 20,837
1975 84 2,826 272 98 16,644
1976 55 3,673 152 120 16,615
1977 75 5,367 130 158 13,684
1978 87 6,475 126 504 12,927
1979 90 9,053 234 947 11,918
1980 156 9,315 392 1,158 9,498
1981 366 11,265 229 1,233 7,650
1982 284 12,591 217 1,173 7,329
1983 244 14,154 238 1,248 6,468
1984 94 15,486 475 1,519 8,620
1985 98 16,576 681 1,511 8,363
1986 106 17,229 564 1,413 8,944
1987 90 16,673 523 1,301 8,641
1988 67 15,026 641 1,165 8,706

Source: Volumes from table 1 revalued at 1985 prices.

1 Figures at 1985 constant prices have been derived by applying the unit value for exports and imports in 1985 to the relevant published volumes in each of the years 1973 to 1988.