§ Mr. WellsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards appeals against refusal of planning permission for gravel extraction in green belt and environmentally sensitive rural areas; and what guidance he issues to local authorities in respect of such development.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Government's policy on mineral extraction in green belts is set out in planning policy guidance note 2. It recognises that minerals can be worked only where they are found and that their extraction need not be incompatible with green belt objectives, provided that high environmental standards are maintained and that the site is well restored. There is no specific policy on524W mineral extraction in environmentally sensitive rural areas, but general guidance may be found in minerals planning guidance note 1.