§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what inquiries his Department has made into the leakage of methane gas from abandoned coal mines; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoA review of the extent of natural contamination in Great Britain, including methane emissions from coal mines, is being undertaken for my Department by the British Geological Survey and this is due to be completed in the summer of 1993. Research on the planning response to methane emissions from disused coal mines is in preparation and a contract is due to be placed in the summer of 1992.