MR. SUMMEEBELL (Sunderland)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the nature of the Report of the official sent down to examine into the condition of the beach between Sunderland and Whitburn, and also the result of the negotiations between his department and the collieries concerned in the tipping of the refuse upon the said beach.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) No actual Report has been made on the condition of the shore at Whitburn, but a personal inspection of it was made by the Commissioner of Woods having charge of it. As the result of his communication with the colliery company, they have undertaken to put an end to the tipping on the shore as soon as practicable, but to do this may necessitate the acquisition of additional land for tipping and the rearrangement of the railway access to the tipping area. It is therefore not practicable to stop the tipping on the shore immediately without seriously interfering with the working of the colliery, which is an extensive undertaking and gives employment to a large number of men.