§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to buy out concessionary fuel entitlements.
Earl FerrersIn the context of the privatisation of British Coal, the Government have said that they have no intention of buying out entitlements to concessionary fuel of former corporation employees and their dependants, or changing cash-in-lieu arrangements, for a period of at least three years from May 1994. This remains the position. The Government are, however, now actively considering options for offering to buy out these entitlements after May 1997. Individual beneficiaries would decide for themselves whether to accept the buy out terms offered to them and it is anticipated that a significant proportion would be likely to continue to take their fuel entitlement. It is also anticipated that any buy out offer would be phased over at least two years.