§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to secure that all new planning permissions for mineral extraction are limited to no more than 20 years, and the revision of existing permissions with the imposition of a 20-year time limit.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesA consultation paper issued last year sought views on ways in which old minerals permissions could be updated and on possible mechanisms for ensuring future periodic updating of minerals permissions generally. The paper set out possible options,472W one of which was that the current 60-year time limit on pre-1982 minerals permissions be reduced. We hope to consult further on detailed proposals later this year. There are no proposals to change the duration of those minerals permissions granted since 22 February 1982 on which guidance is given in minerals planning guidance note 2.