§ 13. Mr. Skeetasked the Minister of Power, in view of the fact that the procedure laid down by Section 81 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, and the Modification of Mines Act Regulations, 1948, has proved cumbersome for a wide range of minerals, if he will introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Mines (Working Facilities) Act, 1934, to cover all minerals, thereby obviating the time expended in prolonged procedure causing damage to the undertakings concerned.
§ Mr. PeytonI am willing to consider any evidence that amending legislation is necessary.
§ Mr. SkeetIs my hon. Friend aware that under the existing practice it may take about a year and a half to complete an application and that certain selected minerals such as coal, under the Acts of 1926 and 1934, are able to bypass the existing machinery? Is it not time that legislation was brought into line for the benefit of all mineral producers?
§ Mr. PeytonI would not wish to add to any delays unnecessarily. Proposals on the lines of my hon. Friend's Question were discussed with interested 1519 organisations in 1956 and 1957, but no detailed proposals were put forward then. If my hon. Friend has any such proposals, I should be glad to look at them.