§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy who he proposes will carry the legal responsibilities for existing abandoned coal mine workings in his plans for the privatisation of British Coal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryWe have made clear that no decisions on the form of the privatisation of British Coal, or on the timing, will be made until after the general election.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many abandonment plans for closed coal mines are held by his Department under the provisions of the Mining Act 1871; how many plans are missing; and how many have been obtained for coal mines closed prior to 1871.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryUnder the provisions of the Mines and Quarries Act 1954, plans, drawings and sections of abandoned mines are preserved by the Health and Safety Executive or by other persons under arrangements made or approved by it. The Health and Safety Executive has made arrangements for the British Coal Corporation to preserve such plans, drawings and sections in respect of coal mines. No plans are held by my Department.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, for each of the past 10 years for which figures are available, recorded incidents of the leakage of methane gas from closed coal mines, giving the names of the abandoned coal mines from which the gas originated, the dates of closure of the mines and details of the nature of any buildings in which methane was entrapped.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will bring forward proposals to require the adequate ventilation of abandoned coal mines; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI have no proposals for such action.