§ Lord Stanley of Alderleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can confirm that British Coal will not be wound up without appropriate arrangements being made with respect to any potential liability to remediate land for which it is responsible as the original polluter, in accordance with the assurance given by Lord Strathclyde, on 13 June 1995 (col. 148).
§ The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie)The Coal Industry Act 1994 provides that the British Coal Corporation may be dissolved as soon as it appears to the Secretary of State that it is no longer necessary for the corporation to continue to exist. I would not expect the Secretary of State to reach such a conclusion without being satisfied that there was proper provision for all outstanding liabilities to he honoured.