HC Deb 17 March 1993 vol 221 cc282-4
20. Mr. Hoon

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the results of the coal review.

Mr. Heseltine

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my earlier answer to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron).

Mr. Hoon

Is not the truth that the purpose of the delay in publishing the review is to enable the right hon. Gentleman to cobble together some sort of majority on his own Back Benches, rather than to take account of any concern for the country's energy requirements?

Mr. Heseltine

The truth is that my overall responsibility is to provide competitive energy from a diversity of sources. However, in the process, I must have regard to any changes that take place. I am therefore examining the effects of the coal industry upon energy policies and the level of the marketplace, and I will report to the House as soon as I can.

Mr. Ian Bruce

Will my right hon. Friend reflect on the reaction of the House yesterday to the suggestion that energy prices would be raised when he considers whether it is right to increase the cost of electricity and other energy by giving coal a higher price than the average that could be obtained on the open market?

Mr. Heseltine

My hon. Friend has raised one of the central dilemmas. I am considering it extremely carefully, along with a range of associated matters.

Mr. Stevenson

Does the President of the Board of Trade realise that hardly anyone in the country does not believe that his major preoccupation is trying to cobble together a deal to get out of the hole that he has dug for himself? Will he take this opportunity to reject claims that he has not taken fully into account the reports from the Select Committees on Trade and Industry and on Employment in his assessment of energy and employment needs?

Mr. Heseltine

No one could possibly make such a suggestion, because I have not responded to either report. I intend to respond to both fully. If the hon. Gentleman is seriously suggesting that the President of the Board of Trade should not be preoccupied with the costs to British industry, he merely reveals the divide that exists between the two sides of the House.