§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the main fluctuations in the price—cif—in pounds per tonne, or energy equivalent and an indexed figure" of coal of power station quality available for import into the United Kingdom over the past eight years, the current price and his estimate of trends in future prices in a situation of European or world economic recovery.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 19 October 1992]: The annual average prices for imports of steam coal over the last eight years were:
£ per tonne (cif) 1984 56.6 1985 47.5 1986 37.2 1987 35.0 1988 36.5 1989 39.0 1990 37.6 1991 33.9 11992 31.2 1 January to August. Source: Central Statistical Office.
During this period, monthly average prices have fluctuated between £27.6 per tonne in July 1992 and £69.8 in February 1985, while the price in August 1992, the most recent available was £28.4 per tonne, cif.
My Department does not make forecasts of future fuel prices. However, an indication of the likely range of coal prices in some possible future energy scenarios can be obtained from Energy Paper No. 59, which was recently published by this Department. A copy of this paper has been placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has of the proportion of coal imports into the United Kingdom for 1991 and the first six months of 1992, respectively, that were carried to the United Kingdom in ships other than those owned or registered in the United Kingdom, stating the approximate non-sterling costs incurred thereby, and his estimate of the range of such transport costs likely to be incurred in 1994 and thereafter.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 19 October 1992]: Imports of coal, coke and briquettes to the United Kingdom both in 1991 and in the first six months of 1992 carried by ships registered outside the United Kingdom amounted to 64 per cent. of the total of these imports. From the information available we are not able to provide a reliable estimate of the non-sterling costs involved.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the tonnes of coal imported into the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1992, and his estimate of the quantities likely in 1993, stating broadly the proportion or quantities from each of the main supplying areas or states.
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§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 19 October 1992]: The breakdown of coal imported into the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1992 by country of origin is as follows:
Country of origin Quantity (thousand tonnes) Percentage United States of America 4,367 39 Australia 2,418 21 Colombia 2,038 18 Former USSR 472 4 Canada 407 4 Poland 469 4 South Africa 403 4 Others 709 6 TOTAL 11,284 Source: Customs and Excise.
The Government do not produce estimates of future coal imports.