HC Deb 23 July 1986 vol 102 c283W
Mr. Woodcock

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is his estimate of the contribution made to National Coal Board profits by royalties paid by private mine operators; and whether he has any plans to review the basis of royalty payments;

(2) what information he has to how many coal merchanting businesses have been acquired by the National Coal Board or its subsidiaries since 1979; and what annual tonnages of coal those businesses were retailing when acquired;

(3) what information he has as to how many disposals of coal merchanting businesses there have been by the National Coal Board since 1979 and as to what tonnages of coal they represent;

(4) what is his estimate of the annual profits in each of the years since 1979 which National Fuel Distributors Ltd. has derived from supplying smokeless fuels to concessionaires.

Mr. David Hunt

These subjects are matters for British Coal to advise on and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

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