§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of land within the Home Counties are at present being actively worked for the extraction of minerals.
§ Mr. OakesAccording to the returns made by local authorities for the recent survey of derelict and despoiled land, the total area affected by surface mineral working and mineral waste tipping in the South-East Economic Planning Region, 287W including Greater London, at 1st April 1974 was 31,620 acres (12,796 hectares).
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will restrict the extraction of minerals in the Home Counties.
§ Mr. OakesPlanning control of mineral working in the Home Counties as elsewhere in the country, is primarily the responsibility of county planning authorities. Each application for permission for extraction needs to be considered on its merits having regard to all material considerations including the need for the mineral and the likely environmental effects of the proposed operations. Minerals worked in the Home Counties are used mainly by the construction industry and any curtailment of production would have serious consequences for that industry.