asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the principal countries of origin of coal imports into the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.

Figures are not available for 1969 and 1970, but coal imports were negligible. From 1971 onwards imports came mainly from the United States of America and Australia, with United States of America in the lead to 1974 and Australia thereafter. Third place was taken by Poland in 1972, 74 and 78, by West Germany in 1971, 73, 76 and 77 and by Canada in 1975.