MPs debate support for opencast coal sites

MPs have been debating the subject of who should foot the bill for the restoration of opencast coal sites. The debates, which took place at the end of January, saw Business, Innovation and Skills Minister Matthew Hancock agreeing to work with politicians from across all parties to find a solution to the issues faced by the communities affected.

There are currently 34 open-cast mines across the UK—17 of which are in Scotland. There are also a number of unrestored and orphaned sites, cases where the developers have declared bankruptcy and disappeared.

Mr Hancock said he “recognised the scale of the challenge” but added that the costs of the restoration of opencast mines had already been taken into account back in 1994 when companies paid for the rights to the sites.

The debate was opened by was opened by Madeleine Moon, Shadow Business, Innovation and Skills Minister, after she had expressed her concern about some of the opencast sites in south Wales which were still waiting to be restored by their old operators long after mining had ended at the sites.

Ms Moon told the debate; "The Treasury has profited. Businesses have profited. Somebody has to hold up their hand and take the moral, social, political, financial and ethical responsibility. “We cannot let the private companies get out of this with a responsibility-free zone. Inadequate legislation failed; inadequate regulation failed; the mining industry has failed. We have passed the parcel of responsibility for too long. Let us stop the music, and make the changes our communities need, expect and deserve.”

She added that as the privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 had benefitted the UK Treasury and its agencies the funding for the restoration of the old mines should also be their responsibility.Plaid Cymru Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards said that the UK Government and opencast operators should jointly be responsible for a fund which would pay to complete any outstanding restoration work.

“The Welsh Government can and must deliver meaningful action to protect communities. The UK Government should also be ready and willing to assist by sharing expertise, supporting the devolved Governments in tackling the issue and helping fund restoration work not completed largely as a result of the loopholes left by the coal industry privatisation legislation, supported by this House.

“That fund should be funded by contributions by the UK Government and open-cast operators, and the trustees should include members of communities affected by open-cast operations.”