Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Disused Coal Tips: Safety

Tuesday 26 January 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Treasury Ministers regularly discuss public spending with their ministerial colleagues.
  • Remediation of coal sites is a devolved policy and responsibility lies with the devolved Administration through their Barnett funding.
  • The UK Government previously provided 31 million in financial support for coal site issues, including 22 million for flooding and 9 million for repairs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Bryant Lab Rhondda and Ogmore
Local Government Environment
Context

Discussions are needed on funding for ensuring the safety of disused coal tips in Wales, which have a higher percentage than what the Barnett formula would normally allocate.

Question

What discussions has he had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Coal Authority on funding for ensuring the safety and stability of disused coal tips?

Answer from Steve Barclay

Treasury Ministers regularly speak to their ministerial colleagues on all matters of public spending. Remediation of coal sites is a devolved policy and responsibility lies with the devolved Administration through their Barnett funding.

Not addressed: Discussions about specific funding for disused coal tips were avoided

How: Remediation Of Coal Sites Is A Devolved Matter

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Q2 Chris Bryant Lab Rhondda and Ogmore
Wales Environment
Context

40% of all the disused coal tips in the whole United Kingdom are in Wales, which is much higher than the Barnett formula would normally allow. Ninety percent of these sites are in poorer communities.

Question

Given that 40% of all disused coal tips in the UK are in Wales and most of them are in poor communities, if the Government sticks to the policy where local authorities must find funding for this issue, it will burden the poorest communities. The MP urges the Minister to reconsider how to ensure safety and provide funding for disused coal tip repairs.

Answer from Steve Barclay

Last time this issue was raised, the UK Government responded with £31 million of financial support, including £22 million for flooding issues at coal sites and £9 million for repairs. The Coal Authority is supporting a safety review of all small tips in Wales regardless of ownership.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner's request for rethinking the funding strategy was not directly addressed

How: Responding With Past Financial Support Without Addressing Future Policy Needs

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