§ 22. Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make it obligatory for the National Coal Board to carry out restoration of leasehold land before it reverts.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerRestoration of leased land is invariably required in the case of opencast workings authorised under the Opencast Coal Act, 1958. Local planning authorities have had power since the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, to require such restoration as is practicable of leased land used for new National Coal Board tips.
The generous grants available for clearing land are a better answer than legislation.
§ Mr. RedmondDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the best way of attracting industry to the regions is to improve the infrastructure, and that large parts of Lancashire suffer from untidy derelict land? Should not anyone who makes a mess be ordered to clear it up?
§ Mr. WalkerIn our present planning procedures that is the case. I am pleased to say that in Lancashire, as elsewhere, the amount spent on derelict land in the coming year will probably be twice as much as was spent last year.
§ Mr. SkinnerThe Minister and his hon. Friend talked about people being made to clear up the mess which they have created. Ought not the right hon. Gentleman to direct his attention to the 1723 people who created it, before the National Coal Board was established in 1947? If Lancashire is anything like Derbyshire, he will find that it was the private coal owners who created the mess.
§ Mr. WalkerYes, Sir, but quite a few of them are dead.