§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to ensure that disused coal and metal mines do not leak dangerous chemicals into Welsh rivers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe National rivers Authority has been reviewing the extent of the problem of pollution from abandoned mines in England and Wales. The Government are, at the same time, considering the framework of legal responsibility for this pollution. Separately the authority's Welsh region is undertaking a survey, to which the Welsh Office is contributing, the objectives of which are to identify all ferruginous discharges emanating from or connected with abandoned coal mines in the region and to determine their impacts on the water quality, biological quality and fishery status of the receiving waters.