§ Mr. FallonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the deep-mine collieries which she and her fellow Ministers have visited since 1 May. [19178]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 4 December 1997]: I visited a number of deep mines before assuming responsibility for coal industry matters. My concern has been to deal with the substantial problems that had been created for the coal industry not least at Asfordby mine and Monktonhall whose representatives I have met on a number of occasions since 1 May. This has required intensive exchanges with key players, particularly representatives of the industry at all levels, and the development of policies to establish a level playing-field for coal at home and new markets for coal abroad.