§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, following the special arrangements for Britain arrived at on the EC working time directives, the Government intend to proceed with the repeal of the Coal Miners Regulations Act 1908.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 30 June 1992]: We do not envisage repealing the 1908 Act until the proposed EC directive has been implemented.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what changed working practices British Coal have negotiated with representatives of its work force since the passage of the Coal Industry Act 1992.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what support he has given to promoting United Kingdom investment in the Colombian state-owned coal-mining industry.
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§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 30 June 1992]: My Department held a seminar in London on 29 April to draw energy opportunities in Colombia, including investment opportunities, to the attention of United Kingdom industry.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to provide Government support for British Coal's anti-dumping claim against Colombian coal imported initially into the EC and then into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 30 June 1992]: The Government raised no objection to the European Commission opening an investigation into British Coal's anti-dumping complaint because it is only by investigation that the full facts of the matter can be established. It is now for the Commission to decide whether the allegations in the complaint are such that an investigation is warranted.