HC Deb 22 January 1993 vol 217 cc495-6W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the criteria to be employed by Boyds in assessing the viability of the 10 pits listed for immediate closure; and if he will list the criteria employed by Boyds in respect of the other 21 pits listed for closure.

Mr. Eggar

[holding answer 21 January 1993]: Boyds is required to consider for each of the 10 pits whether the criteria for closure announced on 19 October (currently loss-making and no prospect of viability in the foreseeable future) are met. Its conclusions will be based on an inspection of each of the 10 pits and evaluation in respect of each mine of:

  1. (i) financial information for the current financial year;
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  2. (ii)available coal reserve base;
  3. (iii) near-term capital requirements;
  4. (iv) estimated future operating costs;
  5. (v) estimated future income.

A copy of the full terms of reference of the Boyds' study of the 10 pits is available in the Library of the House.

In respect of the 21 pits, I refer to the reply my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, gave to my hon. Friend for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 20 November at column 433.