To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the current situation at the 12 reprieved collieries; what market testing has been carried out at these collieries; and what is the success of such operations.

[holding answer 27 May 1993]: Decisions about individual collieries are a matter for British Coal. I understand the corporation will be maintaining these collieries in production while they carry out market testing. Negotiations for additional tonnages are continuing between British Coal and the generators.