§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD BLEDISLOE)My Lords, I beg to move, That it is expedient that a Tribunal be established for inquiring into a matter of urgent public importance, that is to say, into the conditions in regard to mining and drainage in an area around the Borough of Doncaster. This somewhat unusual Motion seems to call for a short explanation. The Royal Commission on Milling Subsidence, which is still sitting, had its attention called at the very outset of its labours to the very serious conditions prevailing in what is known as the Doncaster area, where the extensive system of drains and pumping stations is being seriously affected and is likely to be still more seriously affected in future by the colliery operations in that area, which are causing the drains to sink to a very considerable extent below the surface.
The Royal Commission, accordingly, drew up an Interim Report in which they describe this area, as follows:—
We have a district for the most part of rich soil with its surface already below the level of the rivers and only preserved for agricultural purposes by an elaborate system of drains and pumping stations constructed and … maintained at very considerable expense, and entitled, as to many of the drains, at least to an unqualified right of support. Underlying are rich and extensive coal seams now on the eve of systematic development on the most modern lines.Elsewhere in the Report it is pointed out that the area is in fact a great virgin coalfield and that it is expected to win from it no less than 4,550 million tons which will take something like 400 years to work out at an annual rate of ten to twelve million tons. The Royal Commission, accordingly, recommended that a small ad hoc Commission should be set up to investigate the drainage and the other problems which are involved in the 354 mining development of this area. The Ministry of Agriculture is now in a position to set up this Commission on the lines recommended by the Royal Commission on Mining Subsidence.Your Lordships may well ask why we come to you for any authority in this matter. The necessity arises in consequence of the Royal Commission having specifically recommended that the proposed Commission should be armed with the fullest powers so as to require the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents. This, in fact, cannot be done in the case of such a tribunal as this under the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921, unless a Resolution to that effect is passed in. both Houses of Parliament. A Resolution to that effect has already been passed in another place last Monday, and I submit the same Resolution for adoption by your Lordships here. It was asked in another place, and in anticipation of its being asked again here, I will say what the actual area is that is affected. The area is 200,000 acres and is situate mainly in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but to some small extent in the Lindsey Division of Lincolnshire and also in Nottinghamshire. The Chairman of the Tribunal will be Sir Horace Monro, who was Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Board and was subsequently Chairman of the Ouse Commission. The actual personnel of the Tribunal will be according to the recommendations contained in the Report of the Royal Commission. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That it is expedient that a Tribunal be established for inquiring into a matter of urgent public importance, that is to say, into the conditions in regard to mining and drainage in an area around the Borough of Doncaster.—(Lord Bledisloe.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ House adjourned at six o'clock.