§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement concerning origins of future supplies of concessionary coal to retired mineworkers. [101425]
§ Mrs. LiddellConcessionary coal includes a variety of manufactured smokeless fuels, housecoal, and anthracite. Under the current contracts most fuel has been UK sourced. Supplies beyond March 2000 are the subject of a competitive tender, which I am still assessing. I hope that the UK suppliers will continue to make their products available to the distributors appointed by the Department, and that the products they offer are competitive in terms of both prices and quality.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria he will adopt to award the contract for the supply and distribution of concessionary coal to former British coal miners. [101216]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 6 December 1999]As notified in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities, the award criteria for contracts for the supply and distribution of concessionary fuel are the economically most advantageous bids in terms of price, security of supply and quality maintenance standards.