§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the research carried out by his 403W Department, since January 1994, into possible environmental health problems caused by opencast coal operations indicating (a) the commissioning dates of the investigations, (b) the name of organisations or agencies commissioned to undertake investigations and (c) the expected dates for publication of results; and if he will provide summaries of the investigations undertaken. [11357]
§ Mr. GummerThe Departments of Health and Environment commissioned a joint research project on the impact of particulate matter from opencast coal sites on public health in August 1996. The research is being undertaken by the university of Newcastle medical school and the work is expected to be complete in late October 1998. This work is still in its early stages and I will write to the hon. Member with details of what it involves.
1995–96 1994–95 1993–94 Health Board Number of patients Total value of contracts Number of patients Total value of contracts Number of patients Total value of contracts Argyll and Clyde 586 178,585 298 222,245 Nil — Ayrshire and Arran 81 1,990,000 83 1,750,000 60 1,500,000 Borders 16 224,976 32 224,842 Not disclosed 31,431 Dumfries and Galloway 347 168,450 176 48,000 Nil — Fife 65 67,184 Nil — Nil — Forth Valley 1>1,175 980,800 1>713 657,358 1>295 368,475 Grampian 5 116,250 138 207,801 10 118,000 Greater Glasgow 110 398,235 28 110,700 615 404,758 Highland 12 90,362 5 37,860 26 141,850 Lanarkshire 185 2,832,322 162 2,616,080 150 2,486,963 Lothian Nil — 85 50,901 90 87,133 Orkney Nil — Nil — Nil — Shetland Nil — 13 3,250 Nil — Tayside 58 471,789 45 278,071 19 276,997 Western Isles Nil — 2 3,950 Nil — 1 Precise figure not disclosed.