§ Mr. ByersTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report columns 760–61, if the contract awarded to N. M. Rothschild was for a fixed fee; which tender was recommended to the then Secretary of State for Energy for acceptance by the interdepartmental group; and when the contact is expected to end.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 9 February 1995]: The contract was awarded on the basis of hourly rates. The then Secretary of State for Energy acted in accordance with the advice he received from officials. The contract will end once the privatisation of the British coal Corporation, including the non-mining activities, is completed.