§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will wait for the completion of the National Coal Board's drilling programme and a survey of the extent and location of the national coal reserves before authorising any development of the Vale of Belvoir coalfield.
§ Mr. EadieThe National Coal Board will need to continue with exploration after completion of the current programme in 1980. To defer all decisions on new mines until the extent and location of the country's coal reserves had been fully surveyed would mean an unacceptable delay in building up the new production capacity we shall need. 237W The National Coal Board intends to submit applications for planning consent for new mines as and when sufficient information about reserves and other aspects has been gathered to justify the applications. If the Board receives planning consent for mining in the North Leicestershire coalfield, it will then seek my right hon. Friend's agreement that it should go ahead in the light of the economic appraisal of the project.