§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review mineral planning guidance notes relating to opencast coal mining operations by incorporating in them a presumption in favour of the protection of the environment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryThe current guidelines are contained in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3 (MPG 3) published in 1988. As part of a monitoring exercise on the effectiveness of the guidelines, my Department has recently completed a wide ranging consultation exercise on their practical operation. I shall consider whether there is any need for revision of MPG 3 in the light of that.