§ Dr. Kim HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for(a) private opencast coal mines and (b) private underground coal mines have been received via British Coal or otherwise by the Welsh Office since 1 February 1989.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNone. The responsibility for the issuing of licenses for the extraction of coal either by opencast or deep mining methods, by private companies, rests solely with British Coal.