§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what regional development grants and regional selective assistance grants have been made to operators of licensed mines and private opencast site operations in the county of Durham over the last three years; and if he will indicate to whom the grants have been paid and the location of the private mines and opencast sites.
§ Mr. AtkinsMining is not a qualifying activity for reginal development grant. One offer of regional selective assistance has been made to the mining sector in the county of Durham over the past three years: an offer of £940,000 to Weardale Holdings. In addition some payments have been made in this period as a result of offers made in earlier years.