To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what support his Department has provided to promote the proposal by the UK company Global Coal Management Resources PLC for an opencast coal mine at Phulbari in North West Bangladesh; (198833)

We have provided support to Global Coal Management Resources PLC, through the British high commission in Dhaka. They have lobbied to ensure that the Government of Bangladesh take the company's interests into consideration and do not prohibit opencast mining. The British high commission will continue to remain in touch with the company and will represent their interests as appropriate. The Bangladeshi Caretaker Government's new draft coal policy leaves the way open for opencast mining in Bangladesh in the future.