To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tonnage of limestone was (a) imported into and (b) quarried in the UK in each quarter of (i) 2004, (ii) 2005, (iii) 2006 and (iv) 2007 to date. (143769)

[holding answer 18 June 2007]: The Office for National Statistics publishes annual figures for Product Sales and Trade: Quarrying of Limestone, Gypsum and Chalk (excluding Uranium and Thorium Ores) in PRA 14120. However data on volumes of UK manufacturer sales of limestone are not available. UK manufacturer sales of crushed limestone aggregates are reported as part of crushed stone of a kind used for concrete aggregates, for roadstone and for other construction use excluding gravel, pebbles, shingle and flint in the ONS report Product Sales and Trade: Operation of Gravel and Sandpits in PRA 14210, but are not separated from many other aggregates.

HM Revenue and Customs Overseas Trade Statistics give the following figures for imports of CN25210000 limestone flux, limestone and other calcareous stone used for the manufacture of lime or cement, and of CN25171020 limestone, dolomite and other calcareous stone, broken or crushed for road metalling, railway or other ballast: