§ Mr. LesterTo ask the Secretary of State For the Environment when new planning guidance on opencast coal mining will be issued; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierMy right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales have today issued minerals planning guidance note 3 on opencast coal mining. The advice in this new document replaces guidance set out in DOE circular 3/84 (WO 13/84) on the exercise of planning control over opencast working. The new guidance advises mineral planning authorities on the balance which needs to be struck between the economic benefits of developing this source of low-cost energy and the protection of the environment. The guidelines give details of the national policy considerations and the specific impacts which need to be taken into account when determining planning applications for opencast mining.
The guidelines point out that it is for industry to decide the level of opencast output for which they wish to aim in any period; but it is for mineral planning authorities to determine the acceptability of specific projects having 587W regard to both the benefits of opencast coal and the particular proposal, and the environmental and other material considerations relating to the specific site.
The guidelines emphasise the role that opencasting can play in clearing dereliction and improving other despoiled land and encourage the industry and mineral planning authorities to discuss and agree a forward programme of sites within which individual proposals can be considered on their merits.
I hope these guidelines will mark the start of a new chapter of positive and constructive co-operation between the industry and mineral planning authorities to ensure this important resource is extracted in an environmentally acceptable way.