§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received, and what assessment his Department has made, of the impact of the proposed new planning guidelines on quarrying for aggregates upon environmentally important and sensitive sites.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordIn drawing up the new planning guidelines contained in minerals planning guidance "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England", MPG6, the department consulted a wide range of interested bodies including those concerned about the impact of quarrying in environmentally important and sensitive areas. The responses from those bodies were taken into account and we have had no specific representations since the guidelines were published in April this year.
The guidelines are designed to ensure that the construction industry receives an adequate and steady supply of material at the best balance of social, environmental and economic cost. The environmental impacts of particular proposals are given due consideration during the processing of the planning application.