§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for a report on pollution problems relating to Black Clough, Cliviger, Burnley, from the National Rivers Authority and North West Water; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsI understand that the National Rivers Authority has investigated water pollution of Black Clough from the closed Black Clough, Deerplay and Hilltop collieries. The consultation paper "Paying for our Past", published on 8 March, said that the justifiction for the special exemptions for abandoned mines should be reassessed in the light of the emerging conclusions of the review of contaminated land and liabilities, and invited views on the exemptions.