§ 12. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of Power how many tons of colliery waste were put to industrial use by the National Coal Board in each of the last five years; and what research is being carried out for its further exploitation in the national interest.
§ Dr. BrayAvailable figures for colliery waste used industrially are 7.1, 7.9, and 6.9 million tons in 1963–64, and the two subsequent years. The Board's scientists are seeking further applications of the material to brickmaking and as an aggregate in place of gravel.
§ Mrs. ShortCan my hon. Friend give an assurance to the House that this research will be pursued with the greatest possible endeavour and that in future, instead of putting coal waste on the countryside to be a potential danger to future generations, it will be used for commercial purposes as much as possible?