Written questions by Welsh.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing training opportunities for manufacturers (a) installing and (b) maintaining biomass heating products.

The Government takes a proactive role in developing the skills base needed for the transition to low carbon heating, through the provision of targeted support in line with workforce requirements. Commercially available training opportunities exist for those involved in the installation and/or maintenance of biomass heating products and the government continues to work with industry stakeholders to monitor the efficacy of these provisions.

What is his Department's planned timescale for the review of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

The Government is committed to ending the injustice of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the first increased payments due to the transfer of the Investment Reserve Fund to members were made at the end of November. The Government will soon start talks with the MPS Trustees on the future arrangements for surplus sharing. The Government is happy to consider any proposals for changes that the BCSSS Trustees wish to make once the new MPS arrangements have been agreed.