asked the Minister for Energy the net oil import bill for each of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and the likely bill for 1980.
Written Answers. - Oil Imports.
207.
Figures supplied by the Central Statistics Office show that the value of the net imports of crude oil, oil products and liquefied petroleum gas for each of the years 1977, 1978 and 1979 was £352 million, £342 million and £525 million respectively.
As the Deputy will be aware, it is very difficult because of uncertainties about future prices to predict accurately the bill for the current year but on the basis of the latest information to hand it is estimated that the oil import bill for 1980 will be of the order of £800 million.