Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will detail the ex-gratia payments made for community benefit and as a sign of goodwill by British Coal's opencast operations in each year since 1979; (2) if he will explain the changes between 1987 and 1988 in the percentage of the total cost of mining opencast coal in Wales by British Coal devoted to site restoration.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThese are matters for the British Coal Corporation, and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.