§ 18. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will now introduce legislation to take back into public ownership assets hived off from the National Coal Board and sold to private enterprise.
§ Mr. EadieWe shall consider what action is needed in the light of the outcome of our tripartite examination of the future rôle of the coal industry.
§ 28. Mr. Kelleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to report to him all cases in which refunds have been made to it as a result of commercial transactions with outside bodies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. VarleyNo. I understand from the NCB that such refunds are common practice and that its receipts from this source over the last five years exceed £10 million.
§ 32. Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a general direction to the NCB to limit the delivering of its mail order advertising to premises which are suitable for the use of solid fuel appliances.
§ Mr. EadieThe body responsible for this advertising is the Solid Fuel Advisory Service which was set up in 1973 by the National Coal Board, private producers of solid fuel and the coal trade. The method of advertising is a matter for the SFAS.