HC Deb 29 March 1945 vol 409 cc1533-5
51. Mr. Tinker

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of land have been taken for opencast mining; how many have been restored; and how many complaints he has had from farmers since restoration about the land not retaining its level.

Mr. Hudson

The total area of land in England and Wales taken for opencast mining is 19,370 acres and the total area so far completely restored is 1,85o acres. A number of complaints have been received of restored land not retaining its level, and where these prove to be justified and where there is sufficient top soil available, the County War Agricultural Executive Committees do what they can to regrade the site.

Mr. Tinker

Could I ask the right hon. Gentleman to keep a watch on this matter, because I have been informed that many parts have sunk after being filled up, with the result that it is going derelict? Surely it is the duty of someone to watch it?

Mr. Hudson

Yes, Sir, I am well aware of the situation. It is giving me considerable cause for anxiety because, in the course of my travels round the country, I have been to see a number of places where complaints were made of unsatisfactory restoration of the site. Of course, one of the best ways of avoiding that would be if we could get more coal from proper pits and not have to rely on opencast mining.

Mr. J. J. Lawson

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Minister of Fuel and Power has consistently told us from that Box that land in every case has been restored, and it is not only as good after the restoration but in many cases even better? That does not fit in with his statement this morning.

Mr. Hudson

I am not aware that my right hon. and gallant Friend has made such a categorical statement as that. There is no doubt that in a number of cases the restoration has been very satisfactory and in some cases the land has been improved, owing to improved drainage; on the other hand, the experience of the last six months has shown that, in a number of cases, sites which we thought had been properly and satisfactorily restored have, in the light of experience, proved not to have been so satisfactorily restored as we thought at first.

Mr. Manninģham-Buller

Is it not the case that many hundreds of acres which have been laid waste by iron ore mining have not been restored, and are not included in the figures which my right hon. Friend has just given?

Mr. Hudson

That is true. As my hon. Friend knows, that matter is receiving my attention at the present moment with a view to discovering practical methods of restoring such land.