§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans he has to sell existing coal stocks(a) in the EEC and (b) outside the EEC at a reduced price to ease the burden on the Exchequer;
(2) what proposals he has to auction the entire stock of coal above ground to the highest overseas bidder.
§ Mr. EggarThe sale of coal stocks is a matter for the owners of the stocks. More generally as my right hon. Friend indicated to the House on 21 October, I will report on the level of coal stocks and whether plans to run them down are sensibly phased as part of the current review of coal policy.