§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of each report by Boyds concerning British Coal.
§ Mr. EggarBoyds has produced two reports concerning British Coal and is currently working on a third.
The 1992 report into productivity improvements and cost reductions at selected collieries has not been placed in the Library. It was commissioned on a confidential basis and contains detailed information which is commercially confidential. However, a copy was provided to the Trade and Industry Select Committee on a confidential basis.
A copy of the report published on 22 January on the viability of the 21 pits proposed for closure by British Coal has been placed in the Library.
Boyds is currently undertaking a review on whether British Coal's criteria for the closure of the 10 pits were met in relation to all or any of them. I have proposed to British Coal and the unions that the report be published and, if it is, it will of course be placed in the Library.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give(a) the terms of reference and (b) the full cost of each contract entered into by his Department with Boyds in connection with the coal industry, for the last five years.
§ Mr. EggarMy Department and the former Department of Energy have engaged the John T. Boyd Company to undertake three studies in connection with the coal industry. The terms of reference of the first study provide for Boyds to give advice on the technical issues which need to be taken into account when considering the future privatisation of the industry. In respect of the other two studies I refer to the reply my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade gave to my hon. Friend 899W the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 20 November 1992, Official Report, column 433 and to my reply to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 22 January 1993, Official Report, column 498. On grounds of commercial confidentiality, the cost of individual contracts is not released.