Opencast Mining (Hansard, 20 July 1988)

§ Mr. Hardy
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to ensure that section 2(c) of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 is being implemented in regard to opencast operations at licensed sites where the volume of coal extracted greatly exceeds 25,000 tons.
653W

§ Mr. Michael Spicer
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 18 February at column686.

§ Mr. Hardy
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the long-term study into the effects upon health of opencast mining operations to commence.

§ Mr. Michael Spicer
No such study is being undertaken by the Department of Energy. Responsibility for the health and safety of opencast mining operations lies with the Health and Safety Commission and Executive.

§ Mr. Stern
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to assist British Coal in improving the security of redundant opencast coal mining sites.

§ Mr. Michael Spicer
Security of redundant opencast coal sites is the responsibility of the owners of the site.