§ Mr. BatisteTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking, in the light of the report of Her Majesty's principal district inspector of mines and quarries on the flooding of St. Aidan's opencast coal site to(a) identify other sites of potential risk and (b) implement the inspector's principal recommendation to establish a standard form of stability analysis.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Executive's mines and quarrries inspectorate has carried out a survey of all sites nationally and identified those where working was planned in the vicinity of water courses. Where necessary preventive and advisory action has taken place. Work has already started to implement HSE's recommendations by drafting a code of practice incorporating best current technical procedures and also clearly identifying areas of responsibility.