§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider setting up an organisation to report on the effect of noise, dust and other environmental affronts in the proximity of opencast coal sites, similar to the study that has recently reported on the effects of noise around main airports.
§ Mr. FoxThe Commission on Energy and the Environment is carrying out a coal study which will, inter alia, examine the environmental effects of opencast coal mining. Its report is expected to be completed by mid-1981. Each opencast coal site is subject to conditions imposed by the Department of Energy on deemed planning permissions, and enforceable by the local planning authority.