asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many boreholes per year will be sunk in the next phase of the programme of exploration and proving of coal reserves in the United Kingdom; and when the contracts will be placed for that phase.

The National Coal Board intends to drill a further 400 deep bore-holes between now and 1980. It is presently receiving and assessing tenders for the programme. Until it has completed doing this it is unable to give a year-by-year breakdown.