§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will outline the method by which local authorities will be able to decide and influence National Coal Board requests for opencast mining operations in their areas; whether those applications already in the pipeline will be referred back to local authorities; when he intends to introduce legislation to effect these proposed planning changes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawFull details of the new administrative arrangements for determining National Coal Board applications for opencast coal sites are given in guidance circulars just issued by the Department of the Environment (circular 3/84), the Welsh Office (circular 13/84) and the Scottish Office (circular 4/84). Copies are available in the Library of the House.
Outstanding application for authorisation have been transferred as they stand to the Department of the Environment for determination. The new arrangement will apply and, while the National Coal Board will not be required to resubmit its authorisation applications in these cases, it will need to apply to the relevant local authorities for planning permission before the authorisation applications can be considered further.
Full transfer of National Coal Board sites to the normal planning system will call for amendment of the Opencast Coal Act 1958 in order to end the requirement for site authorisation. Thereafter only planning permission will be required. Consultations will take place shortly on the Government's legislative proposals, and legislation will be introduced as soon as possible.