To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his UK counterparts in regard to the environmental impacts of the proposed deep coalmine in Cumbria.

I have had no discussions with the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs on the potential environmental impact of this project.

An Environmental Impact Assessment for any project requires consultation with other jurisdictions where there is potential for significant environmental effects on the environment of those jurisdictions. The statutory Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken for the proposed West Cumbria Mining project at the port of Whitehaven in Cumbria did not identify any transboundary effects. Therefore, it has not been necessary for consultation with my Department.