HC Deb 27 January 1949 vol 460 cc1092-3
34. Major Legge-Bourke

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total acreage of agricultural and other land at present requisitioned for opencast coal mining; and what he expects the acreage will be at the end of the year.

Mr. Gaitskell

Thirty-five thousand, five hundred and thirty-three acres on 31st December, 1948. The acreage is expected to be approximately 36,000 at the end of 1949.

Major Legge-Bourke

In view of the fact that this programme involves the taking over of another 6,500 acres of agricultural land, that to get the opencast coal now contractors have to go deeper than ever before, and in view of the lowering of the quality of the coal, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that this programme should be considerably revised or stopped as soon as possible?

Mr. Gaitskell

No, Sir, not so long as we have the present need for coal.

Mr. Baldwin

Will the right hon. Gentleman make quite sure that in these opencast operations the top soil, which is removed before the mining operations start, is replaced, so that the land may be cultivated after the operations, otherwise the land will become useless?

Mr. Gaitskell

That is always done.

Mr. Thomas Brown

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the requisitioning of agricultural land is making great inroads upon certain parts of Lancashire and Cheshire, and will he not take steps to have this practice reconsidered in the light of the need for home-grown food?

Mr. Gaitskell

It is a question of balancing the various interests concerned. We need the coal very badly. I agree that we also need food, but, in the main, the value of the coal extracted is far greater than that of the food. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Yes, about 30 times greater. However, all these matters are discussed on the spot, and sometimes one decision is taken and sometimes another.

Mr. Brown

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of the coal now being got by the method of opencast operations could be secured by deep mine production, if the Ministry would give consideration to suggestions already made in one part of Lancashire.

Mr. Gaitskell

These problems are discussed between the Ministry, which is responsible for opencast production, and the National Coal Board, which is responsible for deep mine production.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Can the right hon. Gentleman separate the figures between England and Scotland?

Mr. Gaitskell

Not without notice.

Mrs. Manning

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that the top soil taken off is collected and replaced after the coal has been extracted?

Major Legge-Bourke

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his programme for this year involves the requisitioning of much land of which the owners have been told that the land would not be requisitioned, and will he apply this fact to his programme?

Mr. Gaitskell

We really must have this amount of coal, although I am always prepared to consider, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, any particular case put to me. I cannot agree to cut down the programme for opencast coal for 1949.

Major Legge-Bourke

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter again at the earliest opportunity on the Motion for the Adjournment.