§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he will prepare regional coalfield statements In Wales concerning opencast coalmining; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerIn accordance with the code of practice produced by the local authority associations, British Coal Corporation has agreed to prepare a national assessment of the market requirement for opencast coal.
Subsequently, British Coal will prepare regional coalfield statements which will indicate the regional impact of the national assessment, for discussion with the mineral planning authorities in each region.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he will ensure that local people, as well as county mineral planning authorities, will be involved in opencast mining applications; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristThe Government believe that local people should be given the opportunity to make their views known both to the industry and to the mineral planning authorities. Thus the law requires an applicant for planning permission for opencast mining to advertise his proposals in the local press and on a notice to be displayed on the site. The application cannot then be determined for a minimum of 21 days during which members of the public and anyone with an interest in the land may make representations to the mineral planning authority. In addition, where proposals relate to large sites or sites that may be worked over many years the Government encourage the industry to discuss the proposals at an early stage with the local community by holding public exhibitions and meetings.