§ Mr. StevensTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received the Ove Arup report on the monitoring of the use of the evaluative framework for the disposal of colliery spoil; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoAlthough there has been a decrease in the amount of colliery spoil produced in recent years, its disposal is still a problem. Version 1 of the evaluative framework, published in 1987, was designed to assist decision making on future disposal schemes for deep mine colliery spoil. It has encouraged systematic investigation of both environmental and financial aspects of alternative options.
My Department commissioned research to monitor the effectiveness of the framework and it has now been modified to include the lessons learnt. The contractors have now submitted their main research report to my Department and published version 2 of the evaluative framework. I have today placed copies in the House Library. I am sure that the publication of this updated version will improve its usefulness to both the local authorities and the coal industry and will help resolve many of the problems that have been experienced.