asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the negotiations referred to by the hon. Member for Bedford, Official Report, 14 July 1978, columns 823–4, between the British National Oil Corporation and the National Coal Board (Coal Products) Ltd. covering its formal subsidiary National Coal Board (Exploration) Ltd. has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion; and what was the date of the settlement.

I am writing to the hon. Member about the basis of the settlement of negotiations on this issue, on which discussions continued until 19 July 1978.