§ Mr. Les Huckfieldasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is available to his Department as to the length of time land, under the auspices of his Department, reverting to it following opencast coal mining and backfilling operations, normally requires for stabilisation before it is deemed suitable for release for either agricultural or industrial development; and whether he will make a statement.
600W
§ Mrs. FennerWhere land held by the National Coal Board for opencast coal working is to be restored for agricultural use, my Department, upon completion of the mining operations and the restoration of the site, supervises as agent for the board a programme of agricultural aftercare which normally covers a period of five years.