§ Mr. HardyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the steps taken to ensure the fabric of the mines at all the collieries which he announced were to be closed have been satisfactorily maintained; arid what assessment of this has been made by Her Majesty's inspectors of mines.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 18 January 1993]: British Coal, whose responsibility this is, has given frequent assurances that it is preserving the fabric of the 10 pits so that if, at the end of the period of consultation, it is decided to keep any or all of them open, that will be possible. My right hon. Friend has asked Boyds to report on whether the fabric of the 10 pits is being preserved in accordance with those assurances.
The HSE, through Her Majesty's inspectors of mines, continues to inspect these pits in accordance with its plan of work to ensure the health and safety of those working there.