asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his reply of 6th December 1976 to the hon. Member for Chingford concerning the social contract and fringe benefits paid by NCB, the payment of fares to work has been the subject of consultation with his Department; and how much payments fall within the terms of the social contract.

The NCB's subsidised transport arrangements for its non-industrial staff were established on 1st March 1974 as the result of an arbitration award made in December 1973. These arrangements were, therefore, initiated before the present Government took office.