Opencast Mining

EDM number 1167 in 1989-90, proposed by Simon Hughes on 22/06/1990.

That this House notes with concern the increase in opencast mining operations being undertaken by British Coal; suggests this is fuelled by a desire on the part of the Government to fatten up the industry in preparation for privatisation; regrets that the Government is following its standard pre-privatisation policy of sacrificing the environment for short-term political and economic gain; and affirms that opencast mining operations should only be allowed where they command the support of all the local communities affected and if genuine environmental benefits result, and should never be allowed where the environmental damage cannot be contained or where communities may be destroyed.

This motion has been signed by a total of 10 MPs.