53. Mr. J. T. Priceasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he can state the acreage of land in Lancashire which is sterilised and made useless for either agriculture or building, by colliery slag heaps; and if he will initiate 2066 a programme of work to remove the numerous dumps left by derelict coal mines, thereby providing material for road making and land for social use.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Ernest Marples)My right hon. Friend regrets that the information is not available. The responsibility for initiating proposals to turn colliery spoil-heaps to some useful purpose or to improve their appearance rests with the local authorities, but he is always glad to give what assistance he can.
Mr. PriceDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary think that if he has not the information it would be useful if he tried to obtain it, because at the present time local authorities and Government Departments are complaining in this House and elsewhere about the scandalous wastage of land going on and the shortage of land for social use; and would it not be a good idea to make a start by putting large numbers of the prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons, who are now doing no useful work, to this work of reclamation, so that they may be doing something of social value for the community?
§ Mr. MarplesA start has already been made. The Lancashire County Council have recently started a survey of derelict land in their area which will cover colliery spoil-heaps. Before any action is taken it is necessary to make that preliminary survey.