import a large proportion of its aggregate from the Midlands and
Somerset (Department for Communities and Local Government,
2006a). The maintenance of supply to this and other resourcepoor
regions in England requires considerable market intervention
from government through the managed aggregate supply system
(MASS) set up as a result of the Verney Inquiry in the 1970 s
(Thomas, 2008). MASS uses econometric forecasting as a basis
for apportionment of aggregate production at the regional and
sub-regional level. In effect, it uses a quota system to compel
resource-rich mineral planning authorities to bring forward production
sites to ensure that a ‘steady and adequate supply’ of
primary aggregates is always available, even if that aggregate is
required for ‘export’ to a resource-poor area (Gunn et al., 2008).
The practical effect of this policy is that resource-rich regions such
as the East Midlands and South West England ‘export’ considerable
amounts of aggregate to resource-poor regions such as South East
England, London and North West England (see Fig. 3).