§ Mr. GallieTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions with respect to European Community moves towards a European reference price for coal and its implications for the coal industry.
§ Mr. EggarThe Commission has put forward preliminary ideas on reference prices for coal as a device to restrain excessive levels of subsidies for coal mining in some member states. There is no suggestion that the Commission intend to subsidise Community coal production so that it is all sold at a reference price level. We support the Commission's aim of reducing unjustifiable subsidies.
§ Mr. GallieTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list current levels of subsidy given to coal producers within European Community member states.
§ Mr. EggarThe amount of subsidy for current coal production in 1990 for relevant European Community member states was as follows:
Source: European Commission.
£ per tonne Belgium 55.19 France 10.99 Germany 39.23 Spain 18.83 United Kingdom — European Community policy is to have subsidies for current production by all member states phased out, and the Government fully support this aim.