HC Deb 19 February 1959 vol 600 cc518-20
12. Mr. Fitch

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the unsatisfactory state of the land returned to several farmers at Goose Green, Wigan, after opencast coal operations, he will oppose all further applications to use agricultural land for this purpose.

Mr. Godber

Before this land was returned to the farmers it was given a full course of agricultural after-treatment. My right hon. Friend has arranged for the farmers concerned to be given further technical advice.

Decisions on proposals of the National Coal Board to work land for opencast coal are not a matter for my right hon. Friend but are taken by my noble Friend, the Minister of Power, after consideration of all the relevant factors. Applications are now dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Opencast Coal Act, 1958, and, under the procedures of the Act, opportunities are provided for objections and, in appropriate cases, for local public inquiry.

Mr. Fitch

But surely the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend can object to good agricultural land being used for opencast mining operations, particularly in a period such as the present when there is a surplus of coal?

Mr. Godber

Yes, there are opportunities for my right hon. Friend to make representations in regard to these matters, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that they are made in appropriate cases.

13. Mr. Fitch

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the interests of good husbandry, he will consider giving financial aid to those farmers at Goose Green, Wigan, whose land was left in an unsatisfactory state after opencast coalmining operations, in view of the inadequacy of the compensation which they have received from the National Coal Board.

Mr. Godber

Provided that they satisfy the conditions of the relevant schemes, owners and occupiers of opencast coal land may obtain various forms of help, for example, by way of ploughing grants, field drainage grants, grants under the Farm Improvement Scheme or lime and fertilizer subsidies.

Mr. Fitch

I should like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the courteous way in which he has dealt with my correspondence, but does not he feel that something more tangible than advice is needed in this case?

Mr. Godber

I accept that there have been difficult problems in relation to this case. Some of the land has been difficult to put back into good heart, but my officers are doing all they can to assist in this respect. I am afraid that I cannot hold out any further hope beyond what we are trying to do now.

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