§ Mr. Georgeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) how many opencast coal-mining projects are being delayed or have been abandoned because of objections against the development of the sites; the grounds for objection in each case; and what steps he is taking to have the objections removed;
(2) what estimate he has made of the increase in annual output which would be obtained over the next five years on the basis that all the opencast mining projects now subject to objections were developed.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydMost of the National Coal Board's proposals for working sites have been approved but there are forty-one fully prospected sites and certain partially proved areas estimated to contain at least 8 million tons of coal which have not been worked for amenity or agricultural reasons.