§ 31. Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure that any proposals to close collieries do not lead to river pollution.
§ Mr. MacleanIt is for the British Coal and the National Rivers Authority, in the first place, to assess any environmental effects of pit closures and what measures might need to be taken to avoid pollution. My officials and the staff of the NRA have been in frequent contact about pollution from closed mines, and arrangements have been made between British Coal and the NRA for effective liaison over any proposed closures.