§ 45. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the representations made to him regarding the development of port facilities at Maplin.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerKent County Council and Malden RDC have asked for information about the seaport, and I have provided it. There have been other references in some other approaches made to me on the project as a whole.
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§ 79. Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for the removal of unexploded shells from the Maplin Sands.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerMy noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is forming an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron of the Royal Engineers to supervise the clearance operation. It will be carried out by specially recruited civilian labour.
Preliminary tests have shown that clearance by tried methods will be practicable.
Further tests will be carried out shortly to see how far vibrations might penetrate through the Sands and might activate any deeply buried ordnance. The tests involve no risk to the public, but to ensure complete safety, East Beach, Shoeburyness, will need to be closed to swimmers for short periods on successive days.