§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of environmental problems caused by the closure of 401W the British Coal pumping station at Ushaw Moor, Durham. [14515]
§ Mr. ClappisonUshaw Moor pumping station, now under the control of the Coal Authority, has not been closed. Pumping was temporarily suspended in October 1995, as part of a controlled test programme designed to obtain more information about groundwater flows in the area, and has since been resumed. The National Rivers Authority is monitoring the situation, and I understand that no environmental problems have been identified.