Mining Industry

HC Deb 28 July 1998 vol 317 cc156-7W

Mr. Etherington

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to conclude her deliberations on the issue of dismissed miners. [52751]

Mr. Battle

The recently published Coalfields Task Force report recommended that the DTI review the pension entitlements of individuals who were dismissed by British Coal at the time of the 1984–85 miners' strike. The Department is actively looking into British Coal's handling of the issue. However, given the time that has elapsed since these dismissals and the consequent difficulty in establishing the full circumstances, it is too early to say when a conclusion might be reached.