§ Mr. Normantonasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has studied the various proposals for the future of the coal industry contained in the documents emanating from the European Economic Commission, from the Energy Committee of the European Parliament, and the European Coal and Steel Community; and to what extent these are in conformity with the policy of his Department.
§ Mr. VarleyThese proposals have been the subject of close scrutiny in recent months. Although discussions on them are still in progress within the Community those aspects which concern the future of the European coal industry are broadly in line with the Government's policy towards the British coal industry as set out in the Interim Report of the Coal Industry Examination.