§ Viscount Merseyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When a decision will be made on the applications by Eskett Quarries Ltd. to extend Coolscar limestone quarry in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
§ Lord EltonMy right honourable friend has today written to the parties indicating that he is minded to refuse permission for three of the applications but that he is minded to grant permission for the fourth subject to an annual production limit of 175,000 tonnes for a period of ten years only, provided that a Section 52 agreement is signed covering certain environmental improvements. While my right honourable friend's proposed decision will enable extraction to take place for this further period, he has concluded that an examination is needed to establish for the longer term whether there are opportunities for winning high purity limestone from less sensitive areas. Consultations about this study will be commenced in due course.