§ 35. Mr. DouglasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations between British Coal and the South of Scotland electricity board with regard to the future of deep mining coal burn in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland recently announced that British Coal and the South of Scotland Electricity Board have been able to make substantial progress in their negotiations on a new coal deal. Negotiations on the details of an agreement, including the question of price, are however continuing, and are matters for commercial agreement. Pending completion of the detailed negotiations, the South of Scotland Electricity Board has confirmed that it will continue to take supplies from British Coal at the rate of 2 million tonnes per annum and British Coal has confirmed that it will continue to supply at this rate.