§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the attention of the Office of Woods has been called to the state of the beach at Whitburn, near Sunderland, due to the tipping of refuse from several collieries in the locality, such refuse consisting of slate and broken bricks, and spoiling the bench as a pleasure resort; and whether it is their intention to take any action in regard to the matter?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. MCKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.The attention of the Commissioners of Woods had not been previously drawn to the tipping of colliery refuse on the foreshore. I understand that the tipping, which takes place about a mile north of the village of Whitburn, has gone on for many years. No complaint of its having any injurious effect has been received by the Commissioners of Woods. In the absence of any general expression of local feeling I do not propose to take immediate action, but, of course, I shall always be ready to consider any complaints and, if necessary, to require the discontinuance of the practice.