§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department has undertaken recently to ensure that the pensions of both current and past British Coal employees are fully protected following privatisation of the industry.
§ Mr. EggarNo decisions have yet been taken on the details of the privatisation, but the Government have already made it clear that pension entitlements will be safeguarded.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of current negotiations with National Power and PowerGen about the future of British Coal.
§ Mr. EggarThe negotiations are a commercial matter between British Coal and the generating companies. It is in the interests of all concerned that there should be the earliest possible resolution of these negotiations.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if any current safety provisions in deep-mining collieries will be subject to change following privatisation of British Coal.
§ Mr. EggarSafety provisions relating to the coal industry are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Commission. I have therefore now formally written to the 157W chairman of the commission to seek its advice on safety matters in the context of coal privatisation. The Government are determined that health and safety should remain of paramount importance in the privatised coal mining industry.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to discuss privatisation of British Coal with the National Union of Mineworkers.
§ Mr. EggarAs I made clear in the House on 18 May, I will be writing to bodies directly involved in the coal industry, including the National Union of Mineworkers, seeking their views on the privatisation of British Coal.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the amount per year paid out to all bodies for advice on coal privatisation since 1979.
§ Mr. EggarNo payments were made to outside bodies for advice on coal privatisation before 1991–92. In that year expenditure on such advice was £3.3 million.