HC Deb 10 January 1989 vol 144 c503W
Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet a delegation from the north east Derbyshire district council to explore the possibilities of their receiving financial assistance towards the cost of putting out the underground fire at Callywhite lane, Dronfield under the terms of the Bellwin scheme.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Bellwin scheme is intended to make available special financial assistance to local authorities to meet expenditure incurred in the immediate aftermath of an emergency to protect life or property. The underground fire in Dronfield had been burning for three years before any action was taken and it cannot be regarded as an emergency under the scheme. Furthermore the courts have established that liability for the fire rests with the landowners, from whom costs could be recovered.