§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received stating objections to some or all of the guidelines included in planning policy guidance note 3 on mineral extraction.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesNo comprehensive record exists, but in response to a monitoring exercise which the Government undertook last March, four organisations in Wales wrote calling for revision of minerals planning policy guidance note 3. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 15 July the Government's intention to bring forward for public consultation draft revised planning guidelines on coal extraction generally.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action is currently undertaken by his Department to apply the polluter pays principle to the mineral sector in Wales.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesIn determining those minerals planning applications and appeals that come before my716W right hon. Friend and his inspectors, consideration is given to the need to achieve acceptable environmental standards through the imposition of appropriate conditions designed to control the working of the site and its restoration to an acceptable after-use. Certain mineral sector processes in Wales are also subject to pollution control by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The cost of meeting acceptable environmental standards falls on the industry in line with the polluter pays principle.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what level of resources has been granted by his Department to mineral planning authorities in Wales in each year of the last 10 years; and what plans he has to increase the level of resources.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMineral planning is one of the services for which county councils in Wales are responsible. Resource requirements for mineral planning are taken into account in setting standard spending assessments for county councils as part of the annual local government settlement. Proposals for the 1993–94 local government revenue settlement will be announced in due course.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account has been taken by his Department of the implications of local government reform in Wales upon(a) strategic mineral planning policies (b) the review and upgrading of old minerals permissions and (c) the resourcing of such a review and upgrading.
§ Mr. David HuntMatters relating to minerals planning have been considered by the planning and economic development sub-group established under the auspices of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government. I am now considering the reports submitted by that and other sub-groups.