HC Deb 15 February 1984 vol 54 cc180-1W
Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the innovative spoil disposal schemes that have now been agreed as part of the research project that has been undertaken by Ove Arup and Partners on behalf of his Department; how much of the £2.5 million has been allocated to Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Macfarlane

As was indicated in the White Paper "Coal and the Environment"—Cmnd. 8877—published in May 1983, the Government intend to help to finance a small number of additional spoil disposal schemes. This is complementary to rather than part of the research study currently being undertaken by Ove Arup and Partners. Discussions have been taking place over the last year with the National Coal Board and local planning authorities in the coalfield, but so far only one scheme has been agreed — at Horden colliery in county Durham. My Department's contribution to this project is £99,000. A number of other possible schemes are still under consideration, most of which are in Yorkshire.