Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his plans are for the proposed Woodhouse Colliery coal mine in Cumbria.

On 2 October, Cumbria County Council resolved to grant planning permission for the revised application for the proposed Woodhouse Colliery coal mine. An Article 31 holding Direction has been placed on the application to allow the Secretary of State time to consider whether call in is warranted, following requests from yourself and environmental groups. The application is currently being assessed and the Secretary of State will issue his decision, whereupon relevant parties will be notified.