HC Deb 24 November 1986 vol 106 cc1-2
1. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to discuss with the chairman of British Coal the future structure of the industry.

The Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Peter Walker)

I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

Mr. Rost

When will British Coal management and miners be given the opportunity now being offered to British Gas employees to become shareholders in their own enterprise as a reward for the excellent progress that the industry has made in recent months and to provide further motivation for improved productivity and profitability in the industry? Will my right hon. Friend see whether he can find Sid's brother and tell him?

Mr. Walker

There are no present plans for privatisation, but I am pleased to say that under the bonus system operated by the NCB many miners have benefited from the massively improved productivity that has taken place.

Mr. Mason

Contrary to what the hon. Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost) said, will the Secretary of State give an undertaking that none of the plans for the proposed structural changes to British Coal will enable it to be privatised?

Mr. Walker

No, Sir. I have always said from the Dispatch Box that I would not rule out the possibility of the privatisation of British Coal. That would be an absurd thing to do and I hope that, on reflection, the hon. Gentleman will not do so either.

Mr. Lofthouse

Does the Secretary of State support the increase in the private sector of the British coal industry?

Mr. Walker

The arrangements that have taken place on the licensing of deep mines and the work of the opencast mines have been perfectly sensible and practical, and, I hope, have been to the benefit of the coal industry. I do not think that there is any problem on that.

Mr. Orme

Was Sir Robert Haslam speaking on his own behalf or on behalf of the Government when he talked about privatisation and preparing the industry for privatisation?

Mr. Walker

If the right hon. Gentleman reads what Sir Robert Haslam said to the Select Committee and elsewhere, he will see that he simply expressed the view that if British Coal were to be privatised it had to be done as an entity. That is a perfectly reasonable view for the chairman of the Coal Board to express.