HC Deb 21 July 1994 vol 247 cc522-4W
Ms Walley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which companies are advising him in respect of coal privatisation; and what payments have been made in each case.

Mr. Eggar

The companies advising the Department on coal privatisation are as follows:

  • N. M. Rothschild
  • Clifford Chance
  • John T. Boyd
  • Touche Ross
  • R. P. S. Consultants
  • Dewe Rogerson
  • Wardell Armstrong
  • Peter Williams
  • Brodies W. S
  • Mason Land Survey Ltd.
  • Drivers Jonas

The total expenditure on coal privatisation consultants in 1993–4 was approximately £10.2 million, including VAT. Payments to individual consultants are commercial, in confidence.

Ms Walley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Department of the Environment in respect of planning and environmental considerations relating to opencast coal mining sites to be offered for sale.

Mr. Eggar

My Department has had regular discussions with the Department of the Environment about planning and opencast issues relating to opencast mining. The preliminary memorandum issued in April by N. M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd. made it clear that the grant of planning consents necessary for the extraction of coal would remain a matter for the planning authorities.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Coal to ensure that potential purchasers of Coal Products also have the opportunity of acquiring its Hyload joint venture.

Mr Eggar

The sale of Coal Products Ltd. and of Hyload are matters for British Coal. I understand that the corporation is carefully considering all the relevant factors in reaching decisions on the future of Hyload.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has had about the future of British. Coal Enterprise; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

My Department is in continuing contact with British Coal and British Coal Enterprise about the future of BCE.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the timetable by which the coal authority will become operational; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

It is my aim to set up the coal authority as soon as practicable. I have already announced the initial accommodation arrangements for the authority and its chairman and chief executive designates. The process of recruiting staff is under way.

Mr Alison

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what diversion of coal movements by rail to road from Gascoigne Wood drift mine near Selby have been occasioned by the current series of one-day rail strikes; what planning conditions are breached by these road movements; and what planning authorisation has been sought to give effect to these road movements.

Mr. Eggar

This is a matter for British Coal.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made over the disposal of British Coal's non-operational land and property interest; by what mechanisms such ownerships will be disposed of; over what time scale; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

The Government are currently considering the options with British Coal. No decisions have yet been taken.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Coal to ensure that the management and employees of Coal Products Ltd. have an opportunity of securing that company.

Mr. Eggar

The sale of Coal Products Ltd. is a matter for British Coal. I understand that there is interest in a management employee buy-out and that British Coal has made financial support available to assist with the preparation of a MEBO bid.

Ms Walley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the advice he has received from N. M. Rothschild in respect of opencast coal mining sites to be offered for sale to private mining companies.

Mr. Eggar

N. M. Rothschild continues to provide advice on a range of matters on a day-to-day basis. Operating opencast sites included in the regional coal companies are listed in the preliminary memorandum issued by N. M. Rothschild on 13 April. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The preliminary memorandum also explains that the regional coal companies will include portfolios of prospective opencast sites where potentially recoverable reserves have been identified by British Coal.

Ms Walley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of opencast sites in Staffordshire which he proposes to offer for sale under the Coal Industry Act 1992.

Mr. Eggar

British Coal operates one opencast site in Staffordshire, Bleak House near Cannock. The preliminary memorandum issued by N. M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd. in April explains that it is proposed to offer the site as part of the central south regional coal company.