§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out into methane migration at(a) open and (b) closed waste rubbish tips (i) in England and Wales, (ii) the London borough of Havering, (iii) the borough of Thurrock and (iv) the district of Basildon.
§ Mr. YeoWork on the phenomenon of methane migration from landfill sites has been an integral part of the Department's controlled waste management and contami-nated land research programmes for many years. Projects have ranged from theoretical modelling, through laboratory work, to site monitoring and investigation. The aim of this work is to provide an improved understanding of landfill gas generation and migration as support for the Department's technical guidance on best practice for gas monitoring and control. None of the research work has been carried out at sites in Havering, Thurrock and Basildon.
Research on methane is also carried out in a programme of work managed by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association jointly funded by the Department and industry.