§ 20. Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new measures he proposes to limit the impact of opencast coal mining on the natural environment.
§ Mr. HowardMy Department announced on 15 July that the planning guidelines for opencast coal will be revised. We expect to bring forward a draft for public consultation next year following completion of the Government's coal review. I hope that the hon. Member will appreciate that I cannot pre-empt what the revised guidelines will say.
§ 30. Mr. Eric ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue new planning guidance in relation to the development of opencast coal mining.
§ Mr. HowardWe hope to be in a position to issue draft revised guidance for public consultation following the outcome of the recently announced coal review.
§ 23. Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on the review of minerals planning guidance note 3 on opencast coal operations.
§ Mr. HowardWe received a number of representations as part of a wide-ranging consultation on the practical operation of the guidelines earlier this year. Summaries of the responses to that exercise were placed in the Library when my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced our intention to revise the guidelines on 15 July.