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Written question asked by Alan Brown (Scottish National Party) on Friday, 25 November 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 November 2016 (named day). It was answered by David Mundell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 30 November 2016 on behalf of the Scotland Office.

Opencast Mining: East Ayrshire

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to his oral contribution of 23 November 2016, Official Report, columns 879-880, and the Answer of 5 January 2016 to Question 20538, how many meetings he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss assistance for opencast coal restoration works within East Ayrshire; and on what dates those meetings were held.

Answer

Since the Opencast Restoration issue arose, I have raised this formally and informally on numerous occasions with Government colleagues, including with the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 2015, with whom responsibility for this policy sits. I last met with East Ayrshire Council in June this year to discuss progress with restoration.

BEIS officials have participated in the Scottish Government’s Coal Restoration Working Group which agreed a way forward for these sites. That Group publishes minutes and updates at:

https://beta.gov.scot/publications/coal-restoration-working-group-minutes-october-2016/

which include progress on restoration of sites in Ayrshire.

In addition, our UK Non Departmental Public Body, the Coal Authority, is continuing to offer to provide expert advice to Local Authorities.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
54999
Session
2016-17
Related items
Points of Order
Thursday, 8 December 2016
Proceeding contributions
House of Commons
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Meetings Opencast mining Treasury East Ayrshire
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk