§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government have taken or intend to take to improve the quality of staff processing mineral planning applications as recommended in paragraphs 4.20 and 4.23 of the Stevens report on planning control over mineral workings.
§ Mr. FoxWe believe that county planning authorities should be left to make their own decisions about the staff needed for dealing with minerals applications. A number already employ staff with specialised skills for this purpose.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to carry out the recommendations of the Stevens report paragraphs 17.15 and 17.9 relating to the National Coal Board and paragraph 17.21 relating to the application of the special regime to onshore oil and natural gas.
§ Mr. FoxWe are carrying out consultations on proposed changes to the town and country planning general development order along the lines recommended by the Stevens committee. These would bring the provisions relating to deep-mined coal more closely into line with those for other minerals. In general, we consider that other changes which the committee has proposed to the law relating to planning control over mineral working should apply to deep-mined coal, and onshore oil and natural gas as well as to other minerals.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will implement paragraphs 7.0 and 7.1 of the Stevens report relating to the elimination of time limits for the commencement of mineral workings and take steps to repeal section 41 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
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§ Mr. FoxNo. The planning authority can take full account of the particular circumstances when directing within what period the development must be started. We have no evidence that the operation of this provision is giving rise to significant difficulties for minerals operators.