HC Deb 28 November 1989 vol 162 cc206-7W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will indicate on a county-by-county basis the land area in Wales acquired by British Coal in each of the last five years, separately distinguishing the land(a) bought and (b) leased;

(2) if he will indicate on a county-by-county basis the land area in Wales (i) owned and (ii) leased by British Coal.

Mr. Peter Walker

The information is not available in the form requested.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the sites in Wales where British Coal is currently engaged in drilling exploratory boreholes as part of its programme to assess the viability of opencast coal mining.

Mr. Peter Walker

British Coal Opencast Executive is currently drilling exploratory boreholes at the following three sites in Wales:—

  1. i. Land south of Glynneath, West Glamorgan
  2. ii. Helid Colliery (near Rhymney), Mid Glamorgan
  3. iii. East Merthyr Reclamation Scheme, Mid Glamorgan