§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will undertake an investigation into the effects of opencast coal mining on relevant aspects of public health and welfare.
§ Mr. EadieNo. Appropriate requirements for the proper protection of public health and welfare are always incorporated in the planning conditions which I impose when I authorise a site for opencast coal working. These conditions are based on long experience of opencast coal working and take fully into account the local conditions, any objections which 161W are received, the results of a public inquiry where appropriate and the views of the Department of the Environment, or the Welsh or Scottish Office as the case may be.