To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Coal, the parent company, were required to act as guarantor for Scottish Coal (Deep Mining) Ltd as part of the agreement which Scottish Enterprise entered into to underwrite bank borrowings. Mining (Scotland) Limited, the parent company of Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd, did contribute to the refinancing package agreed for Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd in April 1999, and, prior to that, had invested substantially in the development of the company's Longannet and Kincardine mining operations, but were not asked to act as guarantor for the additional bank borrowing identified as necessary to meet the company's cash flow requirements in April 1999.