§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are yet in a position to make a statement about the application of Eskett Quarries Ltd. to extend their operations in Coolscar Limestone Quarry, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Elton)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is urgently considering the applications by Eskett Quarries Ltd. and hopes to come to a decision shortly.
Lord HuntMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer. Does he recall that when I raised this Question with him four and a half months ago, on 28th November last year, he assured me then:
the decision should be made very soon"—[Official Report, col. 971.]?As it is now more than eight months since the inquiry into that matter was concluded, can the noble Lord tell the House what further considerations have arisen to delay so long a decision by his right honourable friend?
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, this is a sensitive and very complex case. I have to say to the noble Lord that I do expect a decision to emerge—I am tempted to use the words "very soon", but they are identical to the words I used in November, and I wish to convey a greater sense of immediacy than that.
§ Lord MolsonMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether, as I hope is the case, under planning legislation it is possible to take into account the quality of the limestone, so that limestone that is valuable for industrial purposes is not indiscriminately used simply as ballast for roads or for railways?
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, the quality of the limestone is certainly relevant to the case.