§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will define the licensing and planning requirements associated with exploration for gold in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMost of the gold rights in Scotland belong by ancient right to the Crown and are dealt with by the Crown Estate Commissioners in Edinburgh. There are some exceptions. Certain gold rights are owned by individual landowners.
Applicants for a Crown Estate prospecting licence must convince the Commissioners that they have the necessary financial and technical backing to carry through a comprehensive exploration and eventually an exploitation programme. The applicant will be required to obtain any other necessary consents including that of the landowners. Planning permission is required from the relevant planning authority as for any mineral working.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the gold exploration work(a) in progress and (b) proposed in Scotland at present; and if he will name the companies involved.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe majority of gold prospecting licences are granted by the Crown Estate Commissioners. The information requested is commercially confidential to the companies concerned. Separate records are not kept of licences granted by private individuals who possess gold rights.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to tighten up environmental controls over gold exploration; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. and learned Friend has no plans for special controls for gold-mining. Developments of this kind are subject to the existing controls which apply, for example, to discharges to rivers and to the disposal of waste.