asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total amount of the export of United Kingdom coal to Germany and France for the years 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively; and what are the prospects for additional British exports to the EEC.

Figures on exports of coal are published in the "Digest of UK Energy Statistics". Exports of coal to Western Germany and France in the years in question were:

Thousand tons
				Western Germany	France
1972	…	…	…	989	385
1973	…	…	…	1,582	499
1974	…	…	…	360	571

At present coal supplies do not permit any increase in exports, but in any case demand on the Continent has slackened, stocks are high and the market is weak. But the Commission forecast the Community will need substantially increased imports in the longer term, so prospects are good providing that coal can be made available and particularly at competitive prices.