§ 34. Mr. MullinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce his plans for the future of the coal industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineI hope to set out the Government's plans for the future of the coal industry in a White Paper to be published later this month.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the cost of continued pumping at pits in the Durham coalfield was taken into account(a) before the announcement of the proposed closures and (b) in the recent review of their viability.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 15 February 1993]: The factors which British Coal considered before making its announcement of proposed pit closures on 13 October are a matter for the corporation. The studies by John T. Boyd Company of pits proposed for closure have taken account of the costs of pumping at those pits.