The principles also include more flexible arrangements for joint ventures between minerals prospecting firms, recommendation No. 20; further environmental protection at both minerals prospecting and development stages, recommendation No. 17; streamlining of the mine permitting process through closer co-operation between the permission authorities, recommendation No. 41 and the 1996 budget provision for a tax allowance for mine rehabilitation expenditure and a reduction in the standard rate of corporation tax from 38 per cent to 30 per cent covered in recommendation No. 5.
The national minerals policy review group provided an important input into the development of the national minerals policy. There could be no question of rubber stamping the entire report. Ongoing inputs are being made from other sources, such as Government Departments and minerals firms here and elsewhere. It is important to note the review group did not rank the 52 recommendations in any order of priority. We have implemented 15 of them and negotiations and consultations are taking place with relevant agencies and authorities to determine how soon we can implement the rest.