§ [Nos. 2–4.]
§ Clause 3, page 3, line 32, at end insert"and "
§ Clause 3, page 3, line 33, leave out"increase in the cost of labour and materials"and insert"change in the cost of labour and materials and of other items relevant to the cost of carrying out any such works as are referred to in section 9(1) of the Act of 1951 "
§ Clause 3, page 3, line 38, leave out from"enacted)" to end of line 39.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 2 to 4. With the leave of the House I suggest that we consider these Amendments together. The House will recall the explanation given to them on the earlier stages of the significance of the"standard rate ". Under the Mineral Workers Act 1951 operators have been entitled to receive from the fund payments representing the approved cost of mandatory restoration work in so far as it has exceeded the"standard rate"determined by the Minister in 1955. The standard rate was then fixed at £110 per acre and it represented the average cost to operators of complying with the restoration requirements of their leases in 1950.
Clause 3 empowers the Secretary of State to vary the standard rate by order. The new words introduced by Amendment No. 3 require him to take account, not of the"increase"in the cost of labour and materials but of the"change ", thus allowing for the possibility—rather remote, perhaps—that the costs may go down. The other changes in the wording require him to have regard not to the general cost of labour and materials but to the cost of labour and materials relevant to the restoration work. These Amendments, of which Nos. 2 and 4 are consequential upon No. 3, will I hope commend themselves to your Lordships' House. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(Lord Sandford.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.