§ Mr. LesterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to publish the report he commissioned on 23 December from John T. Boyd on the 10 collieries.
§ Mr. HeseltineI announced on 23 December that I had appointed John T. Boyd to report on the 10 pits proposed for closure last October and currently subject to a consultation process between British Coal and the mining unions. I asked Boyds to consider in particular whether British Coal's criteria for closure (loss making and no prospect of viability in the foreseeable future) were met in relation to all or any of them. I also asked Boyds to report on whether the fabric of those pits was being preserved in accordance with assurances that British Coal had given.
Boyds sent its draft report to British Coal, the mining unions and my Department for comment on 22 February in accordance with the terms of reference, and were required to take account of comments received in finalising their report. As I indicated to British Coal and the unions on 3 March, my Department, as a matter of policy, did not comment on the draft report.
Boyds's final report has been sent to British Coal, the mining unions and myself today. I have placed copies in the Library, and I am arranging for the report to be made available to the public shortly.