§ 49. Mr. Nabarroasked the Prime Minister whether he will establish a committee, of which the Minister of Fuel and Power, the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Town and Country Planning, and the Minister of Works would be members, for the purpose of preventing opencast coal mining upon good agricultural land and in areas of special scenic beauty.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not the normal practice to announce the existence or the composition of particular committees of the Cabinet, but I can assure the hon. Member that all the Ministers concerned are fully consulted on the points referred to in his Question before any scheme is approved.
§ Mr. NabarroIs the Prime Minister aware that the existing machinery for defining areas suitable for opencast coal mining is both complicated and cumbersome, and generally results in areas of 29 high agricultural productive value being taken for that purpose, together with areas of special scenic beauty, and what steps will he take to abate this disaster?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think so. There is adequate consideration given now. Of course, what we are suffering from is neglect in the past when nothing was done about this.
§ Mr. TurtonIs the Prime Minister aware that there is general concern about the waste of good agricultural land for opencast coal mining, and that the present system is not working properly? Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter in order to ensure that good agricultural land is not taken for this purpose.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that the hon. Member is correct.