This Order concerns the making of grants by the Secretary of State to the British Coal Corporation under section 3 of the Coal Industry Act 1987 (grants for workforce redeployment and reduction, etc.).

Article 3 specifies the financial year of the Corporation ending in March 1990 as a year in respect of which such grants may be made.

Article 4 provides for the kinds of expenditure specified in the Schedule to the Order to rank as eligible expenditure of the Corporation and their wholly-owned subsidiaries in relation to the financial year.

Article 5 sets a limit on the amount which may be advanced in relation to the financial year with respect to each head of expenditure specified in the Schedule. The limit is 77 per cent. of the relevant costs appearing in the consolidated profit and loss account or 77 per cent. of such larger amount as may be agreed by the Secretary of State and the Corporation with the approval of the Treasury.

Article 6 increases the limit on the aggregate amount of grants which may be made under section 3 of the 1987 Act from £500 million to £750 million.