§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the bidders for British Coal's mining assets; which were successful; and if he will make a statement on the criteria adopted in choosing the preferred bidders.
§ Mr. EggarThe names of the bidders for the five regional coal companies and the care and maintenance collieries are commercially confidential. Preferred bidders were announced on Wednesday 12 October. They are:
- R J B Mining plc for Central North, Central South and North
- East Regional Coal Companies and Thorne and Ellington Care
- and Maintenance Collieries;
- Celtic Energy Limited for South Wales;
- Mining (Scotland) Limited for Scotland;
- Coal Investment plc for Annesley Bentinck Colliery; and
- Tower Employee Buyout Team for Tower Colliery.
All bids were carefully considered on their merits. Our aim has been to privatise British Coal in a way which achieves the largest economically viable industry while ensuring that the taxpayer obtains value for money.