Coal Industry (Hansard, 16 December 1997)

§ Mr. Redwood
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her policy for the future of the coal industry. [18325]

§ Mrs. Beckett
The Government's policy is to ensure secure, diverse and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 10 December 1997,Official Report, column 1002–03, the Government will be reviewing the long-term energy requirements of the nation, and considering the role of coal will clearly be a part of this process.

§ Mr. Redwood
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the decision was made to extend coal contracts with power stations by three months. [20881]

§ Mrs. Beckett
[holding answer 15 December 1997]: This is a matter for the generators and RJB Mining plc.

§ Mr. Redwood
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Government intervened over the coal contracts with power stations for 1998. [20882]

§ Mrs. Beckett
[holding answer 15 December 1997]: Negotiation of coal contracts is a matter for the companies concerned but we have encouraged and we continue to encourage the generators and RJB Mining plc to finalise their negotiations on power station coal deliveries beyond March 1988.