§ Lord Northbourneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether all liabilities for contamination, both actual and potential, were transferred by the National Coal Board to British Coal.
The Minister of State, Department of Trade of Industry (Earl Ferrers)In 1987, the National Coal Board acquired a new name, the British Coal Corporation, but it remained the same legal entity.
§ Lord Northbourneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether British Coal has transferred to British Coal Properties any liabilities as polluter arising from, or which may in the future arise from, any contamination in, on or under any abandoned mine sites which it has transferred to British Coal Properties, in, on or under adjacent sites.
Earl FerrersBritish Coal Property is a division of the British Coal Corporation. Any liabilities relating to 53WA land managed by British Coal Property Division remain liabilities of the corporation.
§ Lord Northbourneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to wind up British Coal Properties when it has disposed of all its properties, and, if so, who will then be responsible for liability in respect of contamination in, on or under, any land which they have disposed of, and which arises from historic acts or omissions of British Coal or its predecessors in title in respect of:
- (a) their underground workings; and
- (b) their occupation and use of the surface of colliery sites.
Earl FerrersBritish Coal Property is a division of the British Coal Corporation. British Coal Corporation is currently considering the handling of contamination liabilities attaching to land which is to be transferred to new owners although I understand that it is the general intention that such liabilities will transfer with the land. British Coal Corporation, including its property division, is to be dissolved in due course, and it is Her Majesty's Government's intention that outstanding liabilities of British Coal Corporation will be dealt with responsibly before the corporation is dissolved.