HC Deb 22 May 1992 vol 208 cc332-3W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the companies or individuals who have approached him about the privatisation of the coal industry.

Mr. Eggar

A number of companies and individuals have approached me about the privatisation of the coal industry including British Coal and the British Association of Colliery Management.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make public details of all communications he receives from the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission on the safety consequences of coal privatisation.

Mr. Eggar

Yes.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he first consulted the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission about the safety consequences of coal privatisation.

Mr. Eggar

I wrote to the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission on 19 May formally to seek the commission's advice on the safety implications of coal privatisation.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will consult the unions in the mining industry to seek their views on the safety consequences of the privatisation of the coal industry.

Mr. Eggar

I have already written to the coal industry trade unions seeking their views on all aspects of privatisation.

Forward to