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Baroness Miller of Hendon: My Lords, from looking at the table of coal imports, I think I can confirm what the noble Lord first asked me about the number of countries from which we import coal. So far as concerns stocks of coal in this country, I am afraid that I am unaware of how many tonnes of coal there are, but I shall write to the noble Lord and inform him. He asked why we are not using coal from our own pits. The problem is that we had an unacceptably high level of subsidy. We were able to bring coal in from all over the world at lower prices. In many cases the coal was of better quality and contained lower amounts of sulphur. As noble Lords will be aware, most of the coal is used for generation in the power stations, which have strict rules about sulphur emissions. As I said, I shall have to write to the noble Lord about the other matter.
Lord Clark of Kempston: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the privatisation of British Coal has been a great boon to this country's economy in view of the fact that production costs of coal in this country are now low, and compare favourably with coal from abroad? Does she further agree that it would be folly to change this country's economic policy by trying to cancel the privatisation?
Baroness Miller of Hendon: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for expressing that view, probably much better than I would have done.
Baroness Miller of Hendon: My Lords, perhaps I may just remind noble Lords opposite that between 1979 and 1994 the taxpayer provided some £20 billion to support the coal industry. I have no doubt that noble Lords opposite are taxpayers just as they are on this side of the House. The truth is that we on this side of the House have no doubt that private industry rather than public sector managers, or, indeed, government themselves, is best placed to take advantage of the opportunities available. I shall say one further thing. My noble friend talks about privatisation. The nationalised industries were costing this country's taxpayers £50 million every week. Today, the Exchequer receives £61 million every week. Noble Lords opposite might think about that when they talk about not raising taxes.
Lord Ewing of Kirkford: My Lords, does the Minister accept that I have noticed in recent days that government Ministers are becoming more edgy as they get nearer to losing their jobs? She should try to contain herself. Further, is she aware that National Power imports into this country cheap petroleum coke which seriously damages our environment and has consequent damaging effects on people's health? What are the Government prepared to do about that problem in order to deal with what is a serious environmental and health issue which is emerging in this country?
Baroness Miller of Hendon: My Lords, I understand that we are careful to ensure that everything we bring into this country is safe under environmental regulations.
The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, will the Minister say whether it is government policy in order to reduce coal importation to encourage open-cast coal mining in this country? If so, what precautions are taken to ensure proper environmental control and respect for the feelings of local communities?
Baroness Miller of Hendon: My Lords, as the right reverend Prelate will be aware, this is a difficult question because environmentally there are many people who are not keen on open-cast mining, although on the other hand there are those who feel that it should be carried on. My understanding is that
thorough inquiries are made before a decision is reached. I am afraid that that is the best response I can give the right reverend Prelate at the moment.
Lord Haskel: My Lords, is the Minister aware that, although it is forecast that 21 per cent. of our energy will be generated by coal in six years' time, the use of clean technology for coal has been excluded under the present regulations relating to research? That has been done in favour of nuclear and renewable fuels. Does the Minister agree that it is time we renewed research into clean coal technology in order to make use of the resources that we have?
Baroness Miller of Hendon: My Lords, I am certain that they are doing such research:
Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that it is not just the British taxpayer but the British consumer who has greatly benefited from cheaper, high quality coal, and that that is also an important consideration?
Baroness Miller of Hendon: Yes, my Lords.
Lord Molloy: My Lords, will the Minister say whether there have been, or whether there will be, discussions with the NUM on this and other issues that might arise in the future so that we shall have the best of both worlds? Members of this House and British miners want there to be sensible discussions with miners' representatives--the NUM.
Baroness Miller of Hendon: My Lords, discussions such as the noble Lord suggests are a matter for the industry and not for government.
2006 World Cup: Venue
2.57 p.m.
Lord McNally asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What financial and other support to attract the 2006 World Cup to England did the Prime Minister offer at his meeting with the Football Association on 25th November.
Baroness Trumpington: My Lords, the Prime Minister indicated the Government's support in principle for a bid by the Football Association to stage the 2006 World Cup. The Minister for Sport has agreed to host a meeting with the FA on 11th December to take forward discussions. It is too early to talk about costs and funding for the tournament, as the Football Association has also made clear. But for the first time a body has been set up (the UK Sports Council) which is specifically tasked with helping to attract and stage major international sporting events in the UK.
Lord McNally: My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer. Is she aware that the team which will play in the 2006 World Cup is at present
playing schools' and youth soccer, and that that level of soccer is run on a shoe-string by volunteers? At the meeting on the 11th will Ministers make it clear to the Premier League, the FA, and the Football League that we expect some of the hundreds of millions of pounds now flooding into soccer from TV rights and elsewhere to go to that level of soccer because it is there that the game's future lies?
Baroness Trumpington: My Lords, the Government are fully aware of the need to ensure the continuing strength of football at child level. Both the Premier League and the Football League plan links between their clubs and local schools. In addition, under a voluntary code agreed by the main governing bodies of sport, the football authorities have undertaken to earmark at least 5 per cent. of the fees derived from UK broadcasting sales towards the development of grass roots football. In practice, we expect a far greater percentage to be invested.
Lord Howell: My Lords, will the noble Baroness express to the Prime Minister our appreciation for his support to try to stage the World Cup in this country? We hope that if we do so we shall have the success that we enjoyed in 1966. However, may I draw the noble Baroness's attention to the fact that Mr. Rupert Murdoch seems to be working with Herr Kirch of Germany in a move to televise that World Cup, which would prevent it being broadcast here on terrestrial channels? Herr Kirch hopes to own the rights. That would mean that were Mr. Murdoch to transmit the programmes here he could do so on pay television which would subvert the emphatic opinion of this House and Parliament recently expressed on the Broadcasting Bill. As the European Parliament has recently said that it wants to amend the appropriate directive now going through that body, will the Government kindly consider supporting the European Parliament on this occasion to ensure that terrestrial television provides coverage of the World Cup to every living room in this country?
Baroness Trumpington: My Lords, I am well aware of the great part played by the noble Lord during the last World Cup tournament. As I have said so often, it is a long time since I kicked off for Cambridge United. These are early days to discuss Mr. Murdoch and costs, as I said in my original Answer; but I shall pass the information to the department.
Lord Dean of Beswick: My Lords, is not part of the Question the location of the new national stadium? Does the Minister agree that the International Football Association is on record as saying that it will not come here for a World Cup tournament unless it is played in a London centre? It does not want to go to a provincial city. If that is the case, why are we kept waiting for a statement from the appropriate authority as to where the national stadium will be built?
Baroness Trumpington: My Lords, the 80,000 all-seater English National Stadium, which is to be
funded by lottery money, will have been developed by 2006 and will certainly be central to any English bid. The Sports Council is expected to announce by Christmas whether Manchester or Wembley is to be the site for the new stadium.
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