asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many planning applications have been made in each of the past five years in respect of open cast mining, to produce over 25,000 tons; and what is the number that have been refused following public inquiry.

Applications for authority to work amounts of coal exceeding 25,000 tons by opencast operations have been made as follows—1974–13; 1975–31 1976–19; 1977–15; 1978 (to date)—14. No such applications were refused in 1974 and 1975, and in each of the past three years one application was refused following public inquiry.