§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in the tripartite talks between Her Majesty's Government, the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers with regard to modification in the payment of benefits to those suffering from industrial diseases of the lungs in that industry.
§ Mr. John Moore[pursuant to his reply, 1 February 1983, Vol. 36, c. 69]: A report on the activities of the working party on pneumoconiosis, under my chairmanship, has now been completed and I have placed a copy
434WIn addition to questions of efficiency, the commission was asked to consider whether the company was abusing any monopoly that existed in its favour and whether it was pursuing a course of conduct that was contrary to the public interest. The commission concludes that by discriminating in favour of MacBrayne Haulage, a fellow subsidiary of the Scottish Transport Group, in contravention of the undertaking between the company and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, the company has been pursuing a course of conduct against the public interest.
The commission was also asked to consider arrangements for customer representation, and make a number of recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the existing advisory committees.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be considering the commission's findings and recommendations and will make a statement in due course on the action taken or planned to follow up the commission's valuable work.