HC Deb 29 October 1992 vol 212 cc781-2W
Mr. Madden

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made by the European Commission to him concerning complaints of the dumping of Colombian coal in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

Following the standard practice for anti-dumping complaints the Commission consulted member states including the United Kingdom as to whether they should open an investigation into British Coal's complaint, which concerns imports from Colombia, the United States and China. The Government have told the Commission that we have no objection to their doing so.

Mr. Hain

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give figures for the average price of imported coal(a) prior to 15 September and (b) currently; and what is the percentage change.

Mr. Eggar

The latest available information on the average price of imported coal is for August 1992, when the average price was £ 28.4 per tonne, including the cost of insurance and freight. Figures for September and October will not be available until the publication of the monthly overseas trade statistics by the Central Statistical Office on 12 November and 11 December respectively.

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