§ Mr. TrotterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet reached a decision on whether to review the planning guidelines on opencast coal in minerals planning guidance—MPG—3; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryMy Department and the Welsh Office have recently completed a wide-ranging consultation exercise on the practical operation of the planning guidelines for opencast coal in MPG3. Copies of a summary of the responses have been placed in the Library.
851WThe Government are concerned to ensure that the highest environmental standards apply to the minerals industry generally. Whilst I am satisfied that the guidelines in MPG3 have generally worked well, in the light of the responses to consultation, I have concluded that the guidelines will need revision to reflect changes in the legislative and policy framework since 1988. In addition, the Government announced on 9 March their intention to bring forward amendments to the General Development Order 1988, to revise British Coal's permitted development rights for underground working and opencast coal exploration. I believe that it would be right for revised guidelines to deal with all aspects of coal extraction, including deep-mined coal and the disposal of colliery spoil. I therefore propose to bring forward draft revised planning guidelines on coal extraction generally for public consultation in the autumn.