HC Deb 22 February 1983 vol 37 cc421-2W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the Green Book on mining development in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Before the rewriting of the Green Book can be completed, two main things need to be done. Firstly, parliamentary approval needs to be sought for the compensation regulations which are required before the main provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981 can be brought into effect. Secondly, a number of amendments relating to minerals need to be made to the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977. Further consultation papers on these two matters will be issued shortly. In parallel with this, I intend that there should be consultation on the planning chapter of the Green Book which is the only one yet to be seen in draft form. Depending on the outcome of these consultations, and of course subject to the availability of Parliamentary time, I hope that all these matters can be brought to a successful conclusion within the current Parliamentary Session, with a view to publication of the Green Book as soon as possible thereafter.