§ 5 and 22. Mr. Stephen Swinglerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) how many acres of land in North Staffordshire are under requisition by his Department for opencast mining; for how long this land has been requisitioned; and when opencast operations are due to start:
(2) if he is aware that several applications for licences for small mines in North Staffordshire have been rejected on the ground that the land is under requisition by his Department for opencast mining; and if he will release some of this land to enable these applications to be granted.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydSeven hundred and thirty-two acres have been under requisition from various dates between 1944 and 1951. Work to recover the coal or to restore the land to agricultural use is proceeding on all this land and none can be released until the work is completed.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware of the many applications to open small mines from many of my constituents who are ex-miners or have experience of the coal industry, and who are willing and ready to extract the coal immediately? Can the Minister say how much of this land has been under requisition for some time but on which no operations have been started?
§ Mr. LloydNo. Licences for small mines are a matter for the National Coal Board. It is desirable that small mines should be worked wherever possible, but it must be remembered that if it is a choice between small mines and opencast operations, opencast usually yields a much larger quantity of coal.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware that the Coal Board consistently turn down these applications on the ground that the Minister's Department has all the land under requisition? Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire into the position as the Board appear to be ready to grant some of these applications if the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry is willing to give up some of the land?
§ Mr. LloydThe Board cannot grant licences in respect of land which is producing larger quantities of coal under the operations of my Department. This is a case where the national interest must come before private interests.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsWill my right hon. Friend encourage this desire for private enterprise among hon. Members on the other side of the House?
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware that my constituents are anxious to contribute in any way to the greater production of coal and that it is his Department which is siding against the Coal Board and many of my constituents and preventing a greater extraction of coal by holding on to land and producing nothing from it?