§ 54. Mr. R. J. Taylorasked the Home Secretary how many active burning pit-heaps there are in Northumberland; and what steps are being taken to extinguish them?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am informed that, as a result of the measures taken to deal with the burning pit-heaps in the county of Northumberland no pit-heap in the county is now seriously on fire, though six are still liable to flare up on occasion.
§ Mr. TaylorWill the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries into this matter, because whoever is responsible cannot have seen some of the burning pit-heaps recently? I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that some of them are showing a thousand lights in the darkness.
§ Sir J. AndersonI should be very glad to have any information which the hon. Gentleman has in his possession. My information was quite recent. I am aware that 30 pit-heaps in the county of Northumberland are under continuous inspection, but, as I have said, they are liable to flare up from time to time.
§ Mr. PalingDoes that apply throughout the country?
§ Sir J. AndersonYes, Sir. Steps are taken throughout the country to deal with burning pit-heaps by methods which have been worked out during the past year.