§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provisions have been made to make use of reserves of coal in the UK that are readily available.[9144]
§ Mr. WilsonProvisions of the Coal Industry Act 1994 vested ownership of the nation's coal reserves in the Coal Authority. In carrying out its function of licensing coal-mining operations, the Authority must have regard to its statutory duty to endeavour to maintain and develop an economically viable domestic coal-mining industry.