§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he plans to make available documents relating to the Coal Authority and the proposed licensing regime for the privatised coal industry.
§ Mr. EggarThe Coal Industry Bill provides for the establishment of a new public sector body, the Coal Authority, to carry out a number of functions, including the licensing of coal mining.
I am today making available to the House copies of an explanatory note describing how it is envisaged that the Coal Authority will carry out those functions, and draft model licensing documents. We shall also be using those documents as the basis for a consultation exercise.
The proposed regime has been carefully designed to provide a flexible and impartial means of access to coal reserves in a way that facilitates the development of the industry, promotes competition and gives proper protection to third parties.