HC Deb 25 October 1995 vol 264 cc691-2W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the Coal Authority's actual budget figures for(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 to prevent or control water pollution from mine workings, including the cost of pumping operations transferred from British Coal; and if he will make a statement. [39026]

Mr. Page

The Coal Authority's annual report and accounts for 1994–95 record that the authority is spending in excess of £1 million a year pumping and discharging minewater into rivers. The Coal Authority's main targets for 1995–96 include agreeing with the National Rivers Authority and the river purification boards in Scotland a list of "priority sites" for remediation, together with initial costings for the most significant of these, by 31 December 1995. In these circumstances, it would be premature for the Coal Authority to establish a separate budget.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the land and property in the Don Valley constituency which currently remains in the ownership of British Coal Property. [39554]

Mr. Page

This is a matter for British Coal.

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