HC Deb 19 January 1995 vol 252 cc591-3W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by pit the coal stocks included in the sale documents for British Coal.

Mr. Eggar

Detailed information about the volume of coal stocks held by the regional coal companies is commercially confidential. British Coal's total stocks of some 11 million tonnes of coal were included in the sale of the regional coal companies, with the majority going to RJB.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what considerations underlay his decision to allow RJB Mining to pay £100 million below its tender price for British Coal.

Mr. Eggar

As outlined in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 2 December 1994, Official Report, columns 939–40, adjustments to the price bid by RJB Mining, in common with the bids of other preferred bidders, reflect developments since tenders were submitted in September 1994 or information which was not available to bidders at the time. the bulk of these adjustments relate to specific changes in expected levels of coal stock and liabilities disclosed after bids were submitted. Even after the adjustments, the price paid by RJB is substantially higher than other tenders.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the land and property in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency which was included in the sale of British Coal assets to Mining (Scotland) Ltd.

Mr. Eggar

In the time available, I am unable to confirm which of the assets transferred from British Coal to the Scottish Coal Company Ltd. fall within the hon. Member's constituency. The sites within Strathclyde region which have transferred are:

Location
Opencast disposal points
Dalquhandy 6 km south of Lesmahagow
Damside 12 km east of Motherwell
Killoch 7 km west of Cumnock
Knockshinnoch 9 km south south east of Cumnock
Operating opencast sites
Airdsgreen 19 km east north east of Cumnock, Cumnock and Doon Valley district, Strathclyde region
Chalmerston 2 km north of Dalmellington, Cumnock and Doon Valley district, Strathclyde region
Dalquhandy 6 km south of Lesmahagow, Clydesdale district, Strathclyde region
Damside 12 km east of Motherwell, Motherwell district, Strathclyde region
Piperhill 9 km south west of Cumnock, Cumnock and Doon Valley district, Strathclyde region
Prospective opencast sites
Broken Cross and Broken Cross Extension 7 km south south west of Lanark, Clydesdale district, Strathclyde region
Chalmerston North 5 km north north east of Dalmellington, Cumnock and Doon Valley district, Strathclyde region
Drumshangie 3.2 km north east of Airdrie, Monklands district, Strathclyde region
House of Water 8 km south south west of Cumnock, Cumnock and Doon Valley district, Strathclyde region
Ladylands 9 km east north east of Motherwell, Motherwell district, Strathclyde region
Leadloch 16 km east of Motherwell, Motherwell district, Strathclyde region
Powharnal 9 km north east of Cumnock, Cumnock and Doon Valley district Strathclyde region
Spireslack Revised 20 km east north east of Cumnock, Cumnock and Doon Valley district, Strathclyde region
Gasswater 6 km north east of Cumnock, Strathclyde region
Glentaggart 18 km south west of Lanark, Strathclyde region
Grievehill 8 km south east of Cumnock, Strathclyde region

Location
Pennyvenie 2 km north east of Dalmellington, Strathclyde region
Watsonhead 12 km north north west of Lanark, Strathclyde region
Wilsontown 13 km north east of Lanark, Strathclyde region

I will write with the constituency information in due course.