§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government have taken to reverse the presumption in planning policy in favour of opencast mining. [158662]
§ Ms Beverley HughesA presumption in favour of opencast coal mining was introduced by a Conservative Administration in May 1988. This Government fulfilled their pre-election commitment to reverse the presumption in favour of opencast coal mining by issuing revised Mineral Planning Guidance on Coal (MPG3 (revised) March 1999) which advises that there should be a presumption against new coal mining development unless the proposal is environmentally acceptable (or could be made so by planning conditions or obligations) or would provide overriding local or community benefits.