§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many opencast mining sites are now being worked; where they are sited; and what is their estimated life.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThere are 53 National Coal Board opencast sites currently being worked. They are located as follows:
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Number being worked Dumfries/Galloway 1 Fife 4 Lothian 1 Stratchclyde 3
Number being worked Durham 5 Northumberland 5 Cumbria 4 Greater Manchester 1 Lancashire 1 Leicestershire 1 Staffordshire 4 Derbyshire 9 Nottinghamshire 1 Half in Nottinghamshire and half in Derbyshire 1 West Yorkshire 4 Dyfed 1 Mid-Glamorgan 4 West Glamorgan 3 The average coaling life of opencast mining sites is between 3½ and 4 years. Of the 53 sites currently being worked their estimated remaining life is as follows:
Estimated life left to run Number of sites 0–6 months 9 6 months to 1 year 5 1–2 years 14 2–3 years 9 3–4 years 8 Over 4 years 8
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is now ready to make a full statement on the Government's acceptance of the recommendation of the Commission on Energy and the Environment that responsibility for opencast mining planning be transferred to local authorities.
§ Mr. Giles ShawIt remains my intention to make an announcement shortly.