HC Deb 24 June 1948 vol 452 cc1534-5
5. Miss Jennie Lee

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can now state when the committee set up to inquire into compensation for mining subsidence will complete its report.

6. Mr. Oliver

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the date of the appointment of the committee set up to consider the law of support and the problem of damage caused by mining subsidence, the number of meetings held by the committee and when the committee is expected to report.

Mr. Gaitskell

The terms of reference of this Committee are: To examine the law of support and the problem of damage caused by mining subsidence in the light of the nationalisation of coal and the coalmining industry and to make recommendations and their appointment was completed on 3rd January, 1947. Since then the Committee have held 28 meetings at which witnesses representing the principal interests affected and the technical institutions concerned have been examined. In addition, ten private meetings have been held; and the Committee have also visited mining areas in South Wales, Cannock Chase, North Staffordshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Fife. As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton (Mr. J. Lewis) on 10th June, it is not yet possible to state when the Committee will be able to present their report.

Miss Lee

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the general impression given was that the report would be available by July, and that there will be acute disappointment in the coalfields if this Session ends without the publication of the report?

Mr. Gaitskell

I certainly would not agree that there was a general impression that the report would be ready by July. I myself never had that impression. This is a difficult job and I am sure the Committee are doing their best to speed things up.

Mr. Oliver

Have the Committee finished taking evidence?

Mr. Gaitskell

I understand they will finish taking evidence at the end of June.

Miss Lee

I based my question on the fact that I had a letter from the secretary of the Committee last July that he hoped the report would be ready not later than this July.

Mr. Gaitskell

I expect that in the ensuing year they have found that the job was rather more difficult than was anticipated.

Mr. Oliver

Is it not an inordinate length of time for the Committee to be sitting—from January, 1947, until today—having regard to the fact that most of this ground was covered by a Royal Commission in 1927?

Mr. Gaitskell

It is probable that the report will be ready before the end of the year. I think I can make that promise. It is a most difficult job and is worth doing thoroughly.