§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to prevent further quarrying on Dartmoor. [53813]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government's policy on minerals extraction in National Parks is set out in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6. The Government consider that major developments should take place in National Parks only in exceptional circumstances. Because of the serious impact that working them may have on the natural beauty of these areas, the Government consider that all minerals applications must be subject to the most rigorous examination and that all mineral developments should be demonstrated to be in the public interest before being allowed to proceed.
The Government have therefore welcomed the recent announcement by the Quarry Products Association of a review of the industry's activities within National Parks.