HC Deb 10 February 1955 vol 536 cc2052-3
37. Mr. Lee

asked the Minister of Agriculture to make a statement concerning the discussions which have taken place between his Department and the National Coal Board which have resulted in the purchase by the latter of valuable agricultural land in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, for coal-getting purposes.

Mr. Amory

I understand that the National Coal Board has purchased a farm in this area by private treaty. The Board did not discuss the matter with my Department in advance and were under no obligation to do so. If an application for planning permission to use this land for coalmining is made, there will be the usual consultation with the interests concerned, including my Department.

Mr. Lee

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this sort of stockinged-feet invasion by the Board has caused grave disquiet in the area? Will he say what machinery exists within his Department to ensure that highly valuable agricultural land is not sold to any other organisation for purposes other than food and agricultural production?

Mr. Amory

I have no means of controlling the sale of agricultural land by private treaty.

Mr. T. Williams

Before the Board spent the £30,000 or whatever the price was en purchasing the land, did it not consult his land utilisation officers?

Mr. Amory

My advice is that it did not. Normally we should not expect that aspect to arise until the planning stage was reached.

Mr. Williams

May we take it that when consultation does take place no attention will be paid to the fact that the land has been purchased secretly without consulting the Minister's land utilisation officers?

Mr. Amory

I cannot quite accept what the right hon. Gentleman says. I do not think it is quite fair to say "secretly." I am told that this was just a normal purchase in the market.

Mr. Bevan

Is it not perfectly clear that no physical operations can take place on the land which would disturb the existing use of it without consultation with the various Departments?

Mr. Amory

That is exactly the position.

Mr. Lee

In the negotiations which could take place if the Board decided to exploit the land, would the right hon. Gentleman's Department be in any way inhibited by the fact that the Board is now the owner of the land as distinct from the fact that it was previously agriculturally owned?

Mr. Amory

I think not.