Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for his explanation of the regulations. I have a few questions about mineral extraction. He will be aware that the UK minerals industry and the china clay industry in particular are very concerned about aspects of the regulations. They argue that the regulations could have a severe impact on their operations, without providing the additional protection for health or the environment that would justify them. First, is the Minister satisfied that the balance between imposing further regulatory burden and safeguarding public health and the environment is correct in the regulations? Secondly, and perhaps more specifically, are we imposing a higher degree of regulation here than other European Union countries are imposing? I understand that Germany and Sweden have decided that their existing regulations are sufficient. They see no need to change their regulatory systems in the light of the mining waste directive, so is it necessary to place additional burdens, with which their European competitors will not have to comply, on UK-based firms? Finally, I note from the Minister’s opening remarks that the draft regulations were subject to significant consultation. Does he now feel that the regulations broadly satisfy the concerns of those who responded to the consultation?