§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will expedite the coming into operation of section 1 of the Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe purpose of section 1 of the 1981 Act is to bring all development involving the removal of material from mineral wastes tips under planning control. However, when that Bill was before Parliament, assurances were given that section 1 would not be brought into force until a new class of permitted development relating to mineral deposits had been added to the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977. Proposals for the new class were included in a consultation document issued in April 1983 and consideration of the comments received is well advanced. The new class will186W be included in a package of amendments to the 1977 order which we aim to introduce later this year. Section 1 will be brought into force shortly thereafter.