§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) of the 109 projects approved by his Department under the 1972 Mineral Exploration Act, how many relate to the exploration for potash;
(2) how many companies have been authorised to search for copper in the United Kingdom and have had a grant approved under the 1972 Mineral Exploration Act;
(3) in which part of the United Kingdom occurrences of fluorspar have been discovered capable of commercial development.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantNone of the projects relates to potash. Seventy-six projects submitted by nine companies have the discovery of copper as an objective.44W Nineteen projects, all centred on North England and the Pennines, had the discovery of fluorspar as an objective; some of these are continuing but none has, so far, proved commercially viable.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, (1) of the 109 projects approved for grants under the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972, how many are located in national parks; and how many grants have been allocated to companies separately in England, Wales and Scotland;
(2) of the 109 projects approved by his Department under the 1972 Mineral Exploration Act, how many have received planning consents from local planning authorities.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThirty-one projects relate to England, 61 to Scotland and 17 to Wales. Seventeen projects are in national parks. Before grants can be paid the Department has to be satisfied that planning permission has been obtained, or that it was not necessary to obtain it. Fifteen projects have received planning permission from local planning authorities.