§ 68. Mr. DUNCAN GRAHAMasked the Secretary for Scotland (1) whether he has received any communication from the town council of Hamilton to the effect that they have been advised by their engineers not to proceed with the building of houses on the sites chosen because of the danger of subsidence due to the coal having been worked out underneath the surface; if so, what action does his department propose to take in the, circumstances: (2) whether he is aware that considerable damage to house property in the various mining areas of Scotland has been caused by mineral subsidences: that this damage and loss has affected individual owners of houses to a considerable extent: and whether he will undertake to introduce legislation providing for the payment of compensation, retrospectively, to the owners of houses who have suffered loss from any fund which may be created for the purpose of buying out the owners of mineral royalties.
§ Mr. CLYDEAs regards Hamilton, a communication of the nature stated in the question has reached my right hon. Friend. So far as I am aware, it does not affect the proceeding with schemes on sites already approved by the Scottish Board of Health. Without further information that has reached that Board or the Scottish Office, it would be premature to indicate proposals for action. As regards the general question of subsi- 1493 dence, I am aware of the damage done to house property and that it has affected individual owners. The whole question is engaging the serious attention of the Government, but I cannot at present make any definite statement as to legislation.