§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to change the compensation requirements payable for revocation or variation for mineral contents to enable money to be paid in proportion to any losses actually suffered.
§ Mr. BaldryThe existing legislation already provides for compensation to be calculated in relation to loss or damage suffered, although the amount of compensation can be abated in certain circumstances. However, the Government are reviewing the operation of that legislation as part of their wider review of old mineral permissions and I hope to be able to issue a consultation paper outlining reforms later this year.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to offer compensatory payments to any mineral planning authority minded to revoke an extant planning permission on a site of national or international conservation importance.
§ Mr. BaldryCompensation payable for revoking or modifying minerals permissions on any site is governed by the 1981 Minerals Act. It will be reviewed as part of a wider review of old mineral permissions on which the Department hopes to issue a consultation paper early next year.