HC Deb 20 January 1993 vol 217 cc307-8W
18. Mr. Janner

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a Statement on the proposed closure of coal mines in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Heseltine

The Government are conducting a wide-ranging review of the prospects for 21 of the pits proposed for closure by British Coal. I hope to be able to publish a White Paper as soon as possible next month setting out the results of that review, which will then be debated in this House.

20. Mr. Enright

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which pits he will keep open in the light of his review; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heseltine

The coal review is considering the prospects for 21 pits proposed for closure by British Coal, but not subject to the current statutory consultation exercise, in the context of the energy market as a whole. I obviously cannot anticipate the findings of the review. I hope to be able to publish the coal review White Paper as soon as possible next month.

33. Mr. Illsley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish his review of British Coal's colliery closure programme.

Mr. Heseltine

I hope to be able to publish the coal review White Paper as soon as possible next month.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what terms of reference have been given to Boyds for its review of the 10 pits on the closure list; and what external legal advice he took from it;

(2) when he expects Boyds to visit each colliery on the 10 pit closure list; what are the causes for the lengthening of the original timetable; and when he expects to receive its report.

Mr. Eggar

[holding answer 19 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade wrote to British Coal and the mining industry unions on 15 January providing them with details of the Boyds study of the 10 pits currently subject to consultation. Copies of these letters, including the terms of reference and proposed details of procedure of the Boyds study, have been placed in the Library of the House.

I understand that Boyds has sent British Coal and the unions a timetable of its visits to the 10 pits, and that this is the only timetable formally drawn up for the study. Boyds has been asked to report by 15 March. It would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to take legal advice from Boyds, and no such advice was taken.

Mr. Ingram

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 January to the hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague),Official Report, column 739, if OFFER submitted evidence to his Department's coal review.

Mr. Eggar

[holding answer 19 January 1993]: Professor Stephen Littlechild, Director General of Electricity Supply, wrote to me on 11 January with evidence to the coal review. A copy of the non-confidential parts of this letter has been placed in the Library of the House along with the other evidence to the coal review.