Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2016 to Question 54983, for what reasons he has not provided information on funding from the public purse on enabling open cast restoration works to be undertaken within (a) Scotland and (b) East Ayrshire; what future funding provision the Government has for enabling such works; and if he will make a statement.

Further to my answer of 30 November on this issue, the UK Government has made clear that it is willing to work with those affected on options for addressing unrestored opencast mines in Scotland. Environmental liabilities are a devolved matter and the Scottish Government has lead responsibility on funding provision for these matters.