(2) whether public money is available for areas of historic iron ore mining or other non-coal mining areas on the same basis as that made available to historic coal mining areas; and if she will make a statement;
(3) what representations her Department has received from (a) the relevant non-departmental public bodies and (b) Cumbria County Council on the subsidence issues caused by historic mineworkings in the town of Egremont;
(4) which non-departmental public bodies have delegated responsibilities for dealing with widespread and severe subsidence in public places.
The Government set the overall level of grant to local authorities in the spending review and will be considering all identified future pressures on local authorities, and the ways in which these can be mitigated, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007. However, primarily the route for assistance with funding for local authorities for subsidence caused by historic non-coal mine workings is through the Land Stabilisation Programme.
The Land Stabilisation Programme (LSP) can provide local authorities with help with funding for land instability works due to abandoned non-coal mines which are likely to collapse and therefore pose a problem to life and property. Local authorities in England are eligible to apply to English Partnerships, the non-departmental public body managing the programme on behalf of Communities and Local Government. Extensive guidance on the assistance available, eligibility conditions and how to apply for funding can be found on the English Partnerships website at:
www.englishpartnerships.co.uk
Cumbria county council approached English Partnerships in August 2005 to explore the possibility of LSP funding after the collapse of a mineshaft in June 2005 at Greenmoor Road, Egremont. Following a meeting with and receipt of information from the council, English Partnerships concluded that the mineshaft treatment proposals did not comply with the terms of reference of the LSP. English Partnerships wrote to the council in September 2005 advising that the proposed project was not eligible for LSP funding.