§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the peat extraction sites in the UK(a) which are operational and (b) where active permissions remain valid. [129265]
§ Mr. BradshawThis information is not available in the format requested. However a survey of land for mineral workings in England in 2000 commissioned by the former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions indicated that nationally, approximately 5,200 hectares is permitted for peat production at about 180 sites, of which approximately 300 hectares remains to be worked but where the permissions remain valid. The raw data came from Mineral Planning Authorities but two of the largest authorities were unable to produce accurate survey data and assumptions were made based on previous information.