§ 58. Mr Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect recent earth tremors in Northern England have had on his announcement that Northumberland granite is a material suitable for investigation for the nuclear waste storage programme.
§ Mr. KingThe recent earth tremors emphasise the need to carry out compre-
RATE SUPPORT GRANT £ million 1974–75 1975£76 1976£77 Barnsley … … 24.986 32.264 35.980 Doncaster … … 30.557 43.081 47.394 Rotherham … … 26.435 36.336 39.974 Sheffield … … 52.451 70.377 76.763 Total … … 134.429 182.058 200.111
£ million 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 Barnsley … … 38.449 41.440 47.208 Doncaster … … 48.266 51.192 56.594 Rotherham … … 43.045 45.437 51.577 Sheffield … … 83.672 88.104 93.856 Total … … 213.432 226.173 249.235 The initial calculations of the resources element for 1980–81 will depend on the authorities' estimated expenditure for the year and the first calculation of the domestic element has not yet been completed. The needs element allocations for the year under the 1980–81 main order are:
694W
£ million Barnsley 23.173 Doncaster 29.978 Rotherham 25.473 Sheffield 53.987 Total 132.611 hensive investigations into the characteristics of rocks if we are to assess properly whether the disposal of radioactive waste underground is likely to be feasible. The geological research programme has always included study of seismological factors. In particular it will look at the extent of any fracturing caused by such tremors.