Lord Robens, ex-Labour Minister and Chairman of the National Coal Board (NCB), refused to go immediately to Aberfan.

BBC: Aberfan book reveals 'uncaring' government

Khalid stepped down as chief executive of NCB in 1999 for health reasons, according to his Web site.

FORBES: Banker Khalid Bin Mahfouz is dead at age 60.

NCB, none has announced the sort of wholesale restructuring that is needed.

ECONOMIST: Japanese banks

He later blamed the disaster on 'natural unknown springs' and later ran a media campaign to maintain his position as NCB chairman ahead of the inquiry report.

BBC: Aberfan book reveals 'uncaring' government

NCB, then, could be used to finance the Internet investments.

ECONOMIST: Is Softbank��s Internet empire as strong as it looks?

Prof Nutbrown's comments come as the National Children's Bureau (NCB) charity releases the findings of a snapshot survey suggesting an overwhelming rejection of the ratio-change plans from the early years sector.

BBC: Nursery ratio plans criticised by government adviser

NCB's largest shareholder influencing lending decisions is also alarming.

ECONOMIST: Is Softbank��s Internet empire as strong as it looks?

NCB's finances, and so scuppered the merger.

ECONOMIST: Japanese banks

Khalid and his four brothers inherited NCB upon their father's death in 1994, and a 21% stake was sold to a group of private investors when the bank morphed from an unlimited liability private partnership into a joint stock company.

FORBES: Banker Khalid Bin Mahfouz is dead at age 60.

NCB's bonds in the secondary market.

ECONOMIST: Why the Japanese disregard risk

Khalid's tenure heading NCB led to Saudi government intervention in the affairs of the bank after a catastrophic rise in nonperforming loans, including huge sums to Khalid: The Saudi Public Ownership Fund purchased a 50% stake in the bank in 1999, reducing the family's share to 34%.

FORBES: Banker Khalid Bin Mahfouz is dead at age 60.