§ 18. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the refuse from the burning bing at Buckhaven, swept down by the tide, has now completely blocked the harbour so that no fishing-boats can get out or in; and will he take steps to restore the harbour and dispose of the burning bing?
§ Mr. ElliotThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The very limited fishery interest would not, 1037 I fear, justify the expenditure required to restore and maintain the harbour, but an inspection made by a technical officer of the Department of Health for Scotland last month showed that the colliery company's efforts to control the fires in the bing have had considerable success.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the redd from this bing now forms a huge barrier across the mouth of the harbour, so that nothing can get in or out of the harbour, and you can now walk dry-shod across what was the deepest part of the harbour? Is he going to do anything to stop the alarming injury that is being done by this obstruction?
§ Mr. ElliotOn the wider question of dealing with the bing on the foreshore, communications with the company are in progress, and I hope that some scheme will soon be received as the basis of consideration.
§ Mr. GallacherI am not dealing with the foreshore. The bing on the foreshore is from 8 to 12 feet deep, but the bing in the harbour, which forms a huge barrier, is over 20 feet deep. Is the right hon. Gentleman going to do anything about that.
§ Mr. ElliotI think that that is covered by my reply.