Coal: Mining
(asked on 27th June 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress his Department has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the Coal Industry Act 1994 to prohibit new coal extraction licences; and if he will ensure that those legislative proposals protect the rights of freeminers in the Forest of Dean.
Answered by
Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This question was answered on 7th July 2025
On 14 November 2024 we announced that we will introduce new legislation as soon as possible to restrict the future licensing of new coal mines. Under our plans, the historic rights of Freeminers in the Forest of Dean will be exempted and can continue.