§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what communications he has received from the Harthill Armadale Blackridge Against Opencast in relation to proposed development near the M8 motorway; and what response he has sent. [1971]
§ Mr. ChisholmMy right hon. Friend has received two letters form Harthill Armadale Blackridge Against Opencast expressing concern about proposals for opencast coal mining near Harthill. Both correspondents received replies from The Scottish Office indicating that, if North Lanarkshire Council were minded to grant planning permission for the proposed development, the planning application would require to be notified to my right hon. Friend in order that he might decide whether or not he would determine the issue.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has in respect of the legal costs incurred by local authorities that reject planning applications by those who wish to develop opencast sites. [1972]
§ Mr. ChisholmIt is for local authorities out of the resources available to them to make provision for any legal costs that may be incurred in the exercise of their statutory planning responsibilities. There are no proposals to make an exception to this long established practice in relation to opencast developments.