§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has now received information from all areas regarding their intentions to beautify colliery spoil heaps; whether he will now publish a complete report about all that has been done in this matter; by what means, and to what extent, each area has indicated its intentions for the future; and what further assistance he is giving to local authorities in coal mining areas to enable them to tackle this problem.
§ Mr. BrookeI have received reports from local planning authorities about action taken in response to circular No. 26/59. These show that works for improving the appearance of colliery spoil14W heaps, such as grass seeding, tree planting and grading, have been or will be carried out in Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland and the West Riding. Discussions in the light of the circular have also been held with the National Coal Board by the following planning authorities: Kent, Leicestershire, Monmouthshire, Salop, Somerset, Warwickshire, Burnley and Stoke-on-Trent. It seems likely that in a number of these areas works of improvement will follow. In the course of their replies local planning authorities have also informed me of other schemes of improvement which are being carried out by the National Coal Board under arrangements outside the scope of the circular, and of schemes for tree planting and reclamation which have been or are being undertaken in a number of areas by the authorities themselves. As regards further assistance to local authorities, my Department is always ready with advice on how the problem might be tackled in particular cases.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what cooperation he is receiving from the National Coal Board to help him rid colliery districts of unsightly derelict spoil heaps; and whether the National Coal Board have made fresh proposals to help local authorities in their respective National Coal Board areas.
§ Mr. BrookeThe National Coal Board are co-operating with local planning authorities under the arrangements described in circular No. 26/59 and in other ways, I am sure that the Board will continue to consider proposals for further schemes along these lines.