British Coal Enterprise (Hansard, 24 October 1995)

§ Mr. Bell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if British Coal Enterprise will be sold as a single entity or broken down into its constituent parts; and if he will make a statement; [37658]
(2) what plans exist for Grosvenor Career Services, the outplacement division of British Coal Enterprise, in the event of an outright sale of British Coal Enterprise; and if he will make a statement. [37659]

§ Mr. Page
Bids will be invited for all of British Coal Enterprise or its main activities—workshops, business funding and outplacement services (Grosvenor).

§ Mr. Bell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the timetable for the proposed privatisation of British Coal Enterprise; and if he will make a statement. [37655]

§ Mr. Page
British Coal expects that the process will be concluded by March 1996.

§ Mr. Bell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on future methods of funding of British Coal Enterprise, Fast Track and Enterprise Fund; and if he will make a statement. [37657]

§ Mr. Page
Direct Government Funding of BCE, through British Coal, will continue until March 1996. Thereafter, funding will be a matter for the new owners of BCE.

§ Mr. Bell
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what are the criteria for the sale of British Coal Enterprise; and if he will make a statement; [37656]
(2) what priority he attaches to ensuring the continuation of effective assistance to the coalfield communities in the event that British Coal Enterprise is privatised; and if he will make a statement. [37660]

§ Mr. Page
The sales process is intended to enable British Coal to take a clear view on the best way forward for BCE, having due regard to its statutory duties and the importance of ensuring continuation of effective assistance to the coalfield communities.