§ Mr. TrotterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policies he proposes to include in revised planning guidance for coal extraction in the light of responses to the public consultation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policies he proposes to include in revised planning guidance for coal extraction in the light of responses to public consultation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe draft guidance that we published in December last year provides a stronger environmental framework than the guidance published in 1988. The Government believe that the planning framework for coal extraction should be based on the same general principles as for other mineral extraction. To avoid any misunderstanding, we have decided to delete the statement in the draft guidance that "it would be against the national interest to refuse permission for coal extraction". It is clear from the responses to consultation that the reference to "the national interest" in paragraph 15 of the draft guidance has been wrongly interpreted as giving an extra presumption in favour of coal mining development.
The Government wish to see the development of the largest economically viable coal industry for the longer term within its broad objectives of encouraging competition, promoting economic growth and assisting the creation and maintenance of employment. This must, of course, be consistent with land use planning criteria, and the best way of striking the balance between the economic importance of this indigenous energy resource and the protection of the environment is through the careful consideration of individual applications within the framework of the development plan-led system.
The Government's policy is that, where the development can be carried out in an environmentally acceptable way and consistent with the principles of sustainable development, there is no case, in land use planning terms, for placing more restrictions on coal extraction and colliery spoil disposal than are necessary to ensure full and proper protection of the environment.
We hope to publish final guidance before the summer recess to provide a planning framework which will ensure that the industry can develop the mineral resource in a way that has proper regard to local concerns and is fully compatible with economic growth, the protection of the environment and the principles of sustainable development. I am confident that with careful planning and a sensitive approach to local concerns the industry will be able to come forward with proposals that contribute to economic growth and which provide an environmentally sound foundation for the future.