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Coal: Soil Heaps

Asked by Ruth JonesLabourDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 8 June 2026UIN 4411

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consideration he has given to banning the extraction of coal from coal tips.

Answered by Michael Shanks

The recovery of coal from former coal tips does not require licenses from the Mining Remediation Authority, formerly the Coal Authority. The majority of coal tips are in local authority or private ownership which includes legal responsibilities for their safety. Local authorities are the primary authority for coal recovery schemes from tips through planning permission and enforcement.

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