Mr. O'NeilTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what indemnities Her Majesty's Government have offered British Coal for any court costs incurred through legal action by the trustees of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme; if he will detail the full extent of past and present indemnities offered to British Coal; and if he will publish the external legal advice and the terms and conditions upon which any indemnity was offered.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals his Department has made to British Coal in relation to using part of the surplus in its pension scheme to meet the cost of additional contributions to its staff superannuation scheme in respect of early pensions and pensions for redundant miners.
§ Mr. EggarMy Department has made no such proposals. It has, however, because of its responsibilities for the proper use of public funds, asked British Coal to explore the possibility of applying its share of the surplus to the staff superannuation scheme in discharge of its obligation to meet the cost of additional contributions to that scheme. The corporation intends to seek a court direction before taking any final decision.