asked the Secretary of State for Energy what use has been made of section 11 of the Coal Industry Act 1977 for mining coking coal abroad.

With my consent the National Coal Board has been participating in an important exploration project at German Creek, Queensland, Australia which has identified substantial reserves of high quality coking coal.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what use has been made of the broad provisions of the Iron and Steel Act 1967 for mining coking coal abroad.

I have been asked to reply.The British Steel Corporation does not itself, or in association with other companies, enagage in coal mining.