§ Lord Kilmanyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in considering the report of the inspector who held the public inquiry into the National Coal Board's planning application to mine coal in the Vale of Belvoir account will be taken of the recent change in the National Coal Board's policy with regard to pit closures information about which was not available to the inspector when he held his local inquiry.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Bellwin)My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is still studying the inspector's report and will be considering whether this change in National854WA Coal Board policy is relevant to his decision on these applications.