HL Deb 10 December 1964 vol 262 cc224-6
LORD PEDDIE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what active steps are being taken to secure some measure of reclamation of land rendered derelict by the exploitation of mineral deposits, which covers a total area of 150, 000 acres and is increasing by 3,500 acres a year.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LAND AND NATIONAL RESOURCES (LORD MITCHISON)

My Lords, I am afraid that this is rather a long Answer, but the Question raises a number of different points. The figure of 150, 000 acres mentioned by the noble Lord relates to derelict land of all kinds and not merely to land damaged by mineral exploitation. Restoration of much of this land is not practicable in present circumstances, though something can often be done to improve its appearance by landscaping. My right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is aware of current schemes for restoring or improving about 2,500 acres of derelict land, most of which does not derive from mineral exploitation: most of these schemes are being carried out with the aid of grant. In addition, some derelict land is being used by local authorities for various development purposes, including housing and industry. The amount so used varies from year to year. In order to keep the position under review, and to ensure that we have up-to-date information on progress being made, my right honourable friend has asked local authorities to make an annual return, beginning on March 31, 1965, of the amount of derelict land in their areas and the acreage which they propose to deal with.

Apart from treatment of derelict land resulting from past exploitation, work to restore or improve the land from which minerals are currently being extracted is going on all the time: it has to, to comply with conditions attached to the grant of planning permissions.

About 5,500 acres of mineral land are now being exploited by surface working every year, mainly for sand and gravel but also including ironstone and other minerals. At least half can be expected to be restored to agriculture, forestry and other uses and the remainder landscaped. These figures include about 500 acres of ironstone working, but they do not include the much larger area of opencast coal working by the National Coal Board. As regards opencast coal, restoration is required by Statute; and for ironstone there is a statutory levy.

LORD PEDDIE

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that most informative Answer. I should like to ask him whether he would agree with the Civic Trust's estimate that the cost of reclaiming the majority of derelict land would be £27 million?

LORD MITCHISON

My Lords, I do not think I can give an answer to that question. It is extremely difficult to fix what is really a very hypothetical figure. I can only say that the Civic Trust's Report goes on figures dating from 1955, and they are not always quite up to date.

LORD PEDDIE

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that further answer. May I ask him whether he believes that the present legislation, which gives local authorities power to deal with this situation, is somewhat inadequate, because it leaves the responsibility largely, if not wholly, in the hands of local authorities? And does he feel that there should be a greater participation by the State?

LORD MITCHISON

My Lords, on the whole, no. However, I will see that my noble friend's remarks are brought to the attention of the Ministry concerned.