§ Lord Hogg of Cumbernauldasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy on opencast mining in Scotland.
§ Lord SewelThe Government's energy policy aims to ensure the availability of secure, diverse and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices and 53WA while meeting environmental targets. In general the Government believe that this will be achieved, or at least enhanced, by diversity in the types of fuel supplied, in the source and suppliers of these fuels, and in the means of delivery. The Government are currently reviewing thier policy on fuel supplies to electricity generating stations.
The Government are also currently considering their approach to opencast mining in the context of the current review of planning policy for opencast coal.