HC Deb 02 December 1993 vol 233 c733W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the sources of imported house coal in 1993.

Mr. Eggar

Data on imported coal by sector are estimated and it is assumed that about a quarter of imported steam coal, other than coal for electricity generation, is used in the home. In the first nine months of 1993 the major sources of imported steam coal, which includes imports for use in power stations and industry as well as the domestic sector, were Australia, Colombia, Poland, Russia, South Africa, and the USA.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the quantity and cost of imported(a) industrial and (b) house coal in each year since 1990 and 1993 to date.

Mr. Eggar

The split of imported coal between sectors are estimated, the figures for industrial users and house coal are as follows:

Industrial1 House coal2
Quantity thousand tonnes Value3 £ million Quantity thousand tonnes Value3 £ million
1990 850 34 260 10
1991 1,600 57 500 17
1992 2,720 89 880 28
41993 1,070 38 330 11

Source: HM Customs and Excise.

1 Estimated as 10 per cent. of anthracite imports, plus 75 per cent. of steam coal imports other than coal for electricity generation.

2 Estimated as 25 per cent. of steam coal imports other than coal for electricity generation.

3 The value has been based on the average cost of the total steam coal and anthracite imports multiplied by the quantity.

4 The 1993 figures also include some estimation for intra-EC trade based on information for extra-EC trade pending the availability of full monthly statistics for intra-EC trade from the Central Statistical Office.