asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the value of requests submitted by the United Kingdom for loan assistance from the European Communities for modernisation and reconversion projects in the British coal industry in 1974;(2) What is the value of requests submitted by the United Kingdom for loan assistance from the European Communities for modernisation and reconversion projects in the British coal industry since 5th March 1974 until the latest available date; and what was the value of such requests submitted in the comparable period in 1973, and in 1972.

During the periods mentioned I understand that the National Coal Board applied for loan assistance under Article 54 of the Treaty of Paris for projects with total capital costs as follows:

	£ million
5th March 1973—January 1974	17·8
5th March 1974—January 1975	71·5
1974 (calendar year)	82·5

The United Kingdom was not a member of the Community in 1972. Assistance is limited to 40 per cent. of the total cost of a project. Some £18 million has been received by the board to date. The board has not so far sought any reconversion loans under Article 56 of the treaty for which application would have to be made by the Government on its behalf.