§ Mr. Urwinasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he proposes to take action to prohibit tipping of colliery shale on Durham beaches; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations he has received regarding alternative means of disposal of colliery shale; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Graham PageI have now received the report of the working party which was set up to examine the financial implications of disposing at sea of the waste at present tipped on the Durham beaches. I am meeting a deputation from the Durham County Council and Easing-ton RDC on 21st June as part of the further consideration of this problem.
About 5 million tons of colliery shale is used annually for roadfill and its increased use for that purpose is being encouraged. The use of waste material for land reclamation is always borne in mind.