§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment wht consultations with local communities have taken place in regard to opencast mining in south Yorkshire. [23532]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThere has been no consultation with local communities by my Department regarding opencast mining in south Yorkshire, but local planning authorities and site operators would have been consulted as part of the planning application process.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many compulsory land purchase orders have been exercised by opencast mining operators under the Coal Industry Act 1994; and in what locations. [23536]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordNo compulsory land purchase orders have been confirmed under the 1994 legislation.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the response of south Yorkshire local authorities to his Department's MPG3 guidance note on opencast mining. [23534]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy Department has not received any correspondence from south Yorkshire local authorities on the MPG3 guidance note, which was published in July 1994.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will introduce an environmental test for opencast mining planning applications. [23535]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordProcedures for environmental assessment of new development already exist in compliance with a European directive which came into force in July 1988. Mineral extraction qualifies under the legislation as a schedule 2 project, with respect to which the requirement for environmental assessment depends on a prior assessment of whether the project in question is likely to give rise to significant environmental effects.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites where permission for opencast mining has been given in the Rotherham metropolitan borough council area. [23544]
43W
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe following opencast coal sites have been given permission in the Rotherham MBC area:
- Round wood Phase 1, Rotherham (site now in restoration stage)
- Roundwood Phase 2, Rotherham
- Cortonwood, Wentworth (site now restored)
- Pithouse West, Rother Valley Park (restoration under way)
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate has been made of increased heavy lorry traffic in Rotherham as a result of proposed opencast mining. [23533]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordNo estimate of increased heavy lorry traffic in Rotherham has been made by my Department. However, this matter is one that should have been considered by the local planning authority in its determination of applications for opencast mining permissions.
Year Total number of complaints Number of authorities receiving notices Total number of notices Number of authorities given directions Total number of directions 1990–91 59 6 6 3 3 1991–92 41 6 7 2 2 1992–93 70 8 9 5 6 1993–94 110 12 13 6 6
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in England under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19A notice or 19B direction as a result. [23339]
Year Number of complaints Number of authorities receiving notices Total number of notices Number of authorities given directions Total number of directions 1990–91 21 — 0 — 0 1991–92 15 3 3 0 0 1992–93 36 2 3 3 3 1993–94 40 5 6 6 8