§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has consulted British Coal on the replacement of the Mines and Quarries Act 1954; and whether these consultations will be published.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Commission and Executive have consulted British Coal on the renewal of mines and quarries legislation. This forms part of the extensive consultation programme which involves all interested parties within the mining and quarrying industries.
Responses to consultations are not published. The views of all consultees are taken into account both when proposed regulations and codes of practice are drafted and also by the commission when it considers proposals for new legislation.