§ Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the assurances sought from West Yorkshire county council and Wakefield district council on the Welbeck land reclamation scheme; if he will publish details of the arrangements proposed by the two councils; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TraceyOn 6 August 1985 my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Macfarlane) announced the Government's intention to contribute up to £1.5 million to the Welbeck scheme provided that certain assurances were received regarding financial contributions by other parties, the supply of colliery spoil, responsibility for the long term management of the scheme and a24W commitment to monitor and report on progress. Satisfactory assurances have been received from the National Coal Board, West Yorkshire county council and Wakefield district council and work on the Welbeck project is under way. The scheme is currently being managed by West Yorkshire county council; on 1 April ownership of the land will pass to Wakefield district council. I understand that discussions on the management of the scheme are currently under way between the various successor authorities and between members of the West Yorkshire waste management joint committee.