§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the level of contaminated land on areas controlled by Railtrack in Wales; what discussions he has had with the chairman of Railtrack over the clean-up of contaminated land associated with railway operations in Wales; and what resources he has committed to the clean-up of contaminated land in Wales.
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§ Mr. Gwilym JonesA survey of contaminated land in Wales, including railway land, was undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Office and Welsh Development Agency in 1987–88. Its findings were published and a copy of the report is in the Library of the House.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales, has had no discussions to date with the chairman of Railtrack on this issue but, as is the case with other landowners, the company would normally be responsible for dealing with any dangerous contamination identified on its land.
In terms of resources, the Welsh Development Agency estimates that some £7 million of its land reclamation
Assisted places scheme: Payment to schools financial years 1981–82 to 1992–93 School 1981–82 £ 1982–83 £ 1983–84 £ 1984–85 £ 1985–86 £ 1986–87 £ 1987–88 £ 1988–89 £ 1989–90 £ 1990–91 £ 1991–92 £ 1992–93 £ 1993–94 £ Christ College, Brecon 7,986 21,443 36,063 48,289 62,116 95,473 131,470 155,404 189,033 244,081 321,779 359,755 389,754 Howell's School, Denbigh 11,011 37,883 70,107 96,971 132,971 179,033 225,465 243,740 237,474 231,442 254,759 310,223 353,064 Howell's School, Llandaff 17,774 57,094 106,799 144,940 209,858 274,274 314,274 319,099 334,290 358,798 328,763 399,642 430,751 Llandovery College 3,737 9,217 19,615 31,013 38,279 45,440 55,732 75,308 92,650 140,381 203,641 250,671 256,648 Monmouth School (Boys) 18,515 52,035 92,610 134,170 181,642 233,684 307,291 277,352 323,194 303,951 374,475 434,416 456,071 Monmouth School (Girls) 9,644 21,677 37,072 52,598 68,760 90,225 109,297 114,422 128,010 140,618 166,552 200,729 186,956 Penrhos College 5,108 21,973 38,489 62,843 81,089 99,399 140,459 136,944 156,617 183,500 225,688 273,711 295,428 Rydal School 4,194 38,206 53,896 56,864 67,768 93,274 110,254 112,767 128,121 153,508 189,153 228,083 252,589 Lowther College1 23,709 15,244 — — — — — — — — — — — TOTAL 101,678 274,772 454,651 627,688 842,483 1,110,805 1,394,242 1,435,040 1,589,389 1,756,279 2,064,810 2,457,230 2,621,261 1 Lowther College closed in July 1982.