HC Deb 17 December 1971 vol 828 cc205-6W
Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what date he has set for the completion of the working party report on the financial implications of disposing offshore colliery waste, at present being tipped on the Durham coast.

Mr. Graham Page

No date has been set, but the working party will report as quickly as possible.

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now consider making derelict land clearance grants available to the extent of 85 per cent. of the cost of clearing colliery waste material from beaches on the Durham coast.

Mr. Graham Page

There would he no point in doing so while the tipping of waste continues.

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the House of Commons Library copies of reports made to his Department since 1964 dealing with despoilation of beaches by tipping of colliery waste material.

Mr. Graham Page

There are two such reports. The first, completed in 1966, was by an official of the then Ministry of Housing and Local Government. His report was prepared for internal purposes and was in part based on material supplied to him in confidence. It was not made public by the last Government, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to do so now. The second is a scientific study by the Hydraulics Research Station, commissioned by the then Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Durham County Council and the Easington Rural District Council and completed in 1970. With the agreement of those authorities I am arranging to place a copy of the report in the Library.