§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the National Coal Board, he will raise with him the extent to which the National Coal Board's published accounts accurately record the trading activities of subsidiaries owned wholly or in part by the board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HuntThe published accounts of the National Coal Board are prepared in accordance with section 31 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 and are audited by external auditors appointed by the Secretary of State, who have certified that the statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the board, and of the board and its subsidiaries taken as a single undertaking, and of the results and source and application of funds for the year.