HC Deb 19 November 1990 vol 181 cc42-3W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary State for the Environment whether he proposes to introduce any controls on interim development order sites in respect of(a) opencast mining, (b) quarrying and (c) any other purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

The Minerals Act 1981 provides an opportunity for mineral planning authorities to review interim development orders and other early planning permissions for mineral working and to make orders updating them where appropriate. There are no proposals to introduce further controls, but we are reviewing the operation of the Minerals Act 1981, as announced in "This Common Inheritance".

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding interim development order sites; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

The Department is aware of the recent concern about interim development order permissions and has received a number of representations from those affected by them.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has visited any interim development order sites in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

My right hon. Friend has not visited any interim development order sites in the last 12 months, but I shall be visiting a number of mineral sites during the course of next year to see operating conditions at first hand.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many interim development order sites exist in England; and if he will list full details in theOfficial Report.

Mr. Atkins

All permissions granted under interim development orders before 21 July 1943 have lapsed, but permissions applied for, and granted on or after that date and before 1 July 1948 were preserved by section 77 of the 1947 Act and by subsequent legislation.

No records of applications made under interim development orders were required and no information about the total number of permissions granted is currently available. Such records as there are of such permissions will be held by the successor planning authority and we are discussing the information currently available with the local authority associations.