HC Deb 28 October 1992 vol 212 cc679-80W
Mr. Ronnie Campbell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will direct British Coal to provide information to the British Geological Survey about its 1958 to 1965 and 1973 to 1985 drilling programmes to establish the undersea extension of the Northumberland and Durham coalfield; and if he will ensure that the academic community has access to this information.

Mr. Eggar

I understand that British Coal already provides information to the British Geological Survey in accordance with statutory requirements.

Mr. Ronnie Campbell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has on the number of boreholes drilled between Acklington Whin Dyke and the Grange Park fault in the Northumberland and Durham coalfield; and if he will list the borehole numbers, their co-ordinates, the coal sections and the depths to each coal section.

Mr. Eggar

The Department does not keep information on boreholes. This is a matter for British Coal.