§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the amount of environmental disturbance in the parliamentary constituency of Bolton, East resulting from petroleum exploration.
§ Mr. FoxPlanning permission will be required for any exploration for petroleum which it is proposed to undertake in the parliamentary constituency of Bolton, East. In the first instance, it will therefore be for the local planning authority, in this case Greater Manchester metropolitan county council, to assess how much environmental disturbance any proposed exploration is likely to cause. In the light of that assessment the council will decide whether planning permission should be granted, and, if so, under what conditions the exploration should go ahead to minimise the environmental disturbance to the community.
§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been reached with local authorities to compensate them for any environmental loss or disturbance arising from petroleum exploration.
§ Mr. FoxIn general, no compensation is payable to local authorities for environmental loss and disturbance arising from the development of land, although in certain circumstances persons and organisations directly affected may be able to seek compensation for nuisance through the courts. There is no specific compensation payable under the terms of an exploration licence awarded by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.