§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he anticipates receiving a letter of comfort from the competition directorate of the European Commission regarding the exemption of the coal supply contracts between British Coal, National Power and PowerGen from article 85(3) of the treaty of Rome.
§ Mr. BaldryThe coal purchase contracts between British Coal and National Power and PowerGen were notified to the European Commission by British Coal. British Coal has received a letter from the Commission's directorate-general for competition indicating that it is preparing a draft decision for the Commission to exempt these agreements under article 85(3) of the treaty of Rome.