§ LORD SILKINMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan for an early and complete removal of the pit heaps at Aberfan.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, as my right honourable friend the Prime Minister stated in another place on July 25, this matter is under active consideration, and it is hoped that a statement can be made soon.
§ LORD SILKINMy Lords, may I ask whether the Government will regard this matter not purely from the point of view of how much it would cost but as an act of mercy to the people who are forced to live in Aberfan and see these pit heaps every day and every night of their lives? They are constantly reminded of the loss of their 116 children. I would beg my noble friend to put this strongly to the Prime Minister. It is not a matter of money. This site could be used for open spaces or for some public building for the benefit of the children.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I was in Wales last week and I can assure my noble friend that I am at one with him in knowing the feeling of the people in this connection. I will certainly do all I can to represent those views in addition to those already put forward.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, like the noble Baroness I know this area and I am acquainted with the situation. If, in spite of the plea of the noble Lord, Lord Silkin, which I support, the Government find themselves unable to meet the vast expense of clearing these heaps, may I ask whether they will consider clearing away the existing houses, rehousing the people and compensating the owners of those houses which will be lost? Is it 1391 not a fact that there was one street of houses which was badly affected? If this were done it would at least enable people to sleep comfortably and not to have the fear of the tip coming down on top of them again.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord, Lord Ogmore, who I know is, as I am, very concerned about the situation. I will certainly convey that admirable suggestion to my right honourable friend the Prime Minister.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, as a non-Welshwoman who has worked in the Welsh Valley, may I support strongly what my noble friend Lord Silkin has said; and would my noble friend Lady Phillips suggest to the Prime Minister that this is an occasion which neither logic nor reason can assuage, and will she see what can be done?
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I should like also to ask whether the Government will look into the wider question of the utilisation of tips. There is a plan in existence, of which I could give full details, for making these tips into market gardens. It may sound absurd, but there is in fact a plan to utilise the tips by terracing.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord, Lord Ogmore, for that suggestion. I am speaking without complete knowledge, and it may be that some of the suggestions are already under consideration, but I will certainly see that anything which has been said this morning is taken further.