Clause 103 - Additional powers of the Coal Authority: England and Wales

Part of Energy Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:45 am on 21 June 2011.

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Photo of Charles Hendry Charles Hendry The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change 10:45, 21 June 2011

I hope that I can give the hon. Gentleman complete assurance. There is tremendous expertise within the Coal Authority. It is quite restrained in what it can do at the moment, and can use such expertise in other areas for different mining and related activities. That should properly be remunerated so it will charge for such services, but we recognise that it has untapped skills at the moment, of which it should be allowed to make use. The clause is not an attempt to privatise.