§ 37. Mr. Douglas Marshallasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what regulations he has made defining who pays the development charge in respect of mining operations carried on under a mining lease; and whether this charge is additional to the royalty payable to the person prior to the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947.
§ The Minister of Town and Country Planning (Mr. Silkin)In most cases of this type, no development charge is payable in respect of mining operations carried out up to the end of June, 1951, because an exemption is given by the Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Regulations, 1948. After that date, development charge is payable by the mining operator, but the regulations enable the royalty payable under the lease to be adjusted. In most cases, therefore, the total of the development charge plus the reduced royalty is not likely to exceed the royalty payable before the Act. There may be cases where the royalty payable before the Act is below the current market level, in which event the total of the development charge plus the reduced royalty may be more than the old royalty; but in such cases the mining operator can claim on the £300 million and has been promised preferential treatment.
§ Mr. MarshallThe Minister will be aware that his answer will naturally need studying, but as there has been great confusion over this matter will he ensure that special publicity is given to his answer?
§ Mr. SilkinI hope that the answer will itself evoke interest and publicity.