Orphaned Open-cast Mines
Debate between Alan Brown and Philip Davies(8 years, 8 months ago)
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Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
I echo the hon. Lady’s comments. Although I am a new Member, I know about her hard work over the past couple of years. On health and safety, does she agree that the only way of addressing the situation, including the environmental concerns, is through some form of restoration? The only way that can be achieved is through some sort of UK Government measure. Local authorities do not have the money. The restoration of my local authority’s sites is estimated to cost up to £200 million, and the authority faces a £35 million budget cut over a five-year period. The devolved Administrations are suffering budget cuts. The UK Government have received the main tax income over the years, and a UK Government-driven scheme could target the appropriate sites across the UK.
Alan Brown
I apologise. There needs to be a tax measure or direct funding. A tax measure makes sense.