§ LORD KILMANYMy 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 whether the recent change in National Coal Board policy from refusing licences for small mines to a policy of considering proposals from suitable applicants for new licences to work readily saleable coal has led to any such licences being granted; and, if so, how many and in what part of the country.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (LORD BALOGH)My Lords, this is a matter which is within the day-to-day responsibility of the National Coal Board, but I understand that a change in policy was made in mid-December, 1973. Since then, 16 applications have been received, as follows:
These applications are still being considered by the National Coal Board.
Scotland 2 Northumberland 1 Durham 3 North West 4 Staffordshire 1 South Wales 5
§ LORD KILMANYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply stating how many applications are at present in the pipeline, may I ask whether it may be taken that any have yet been granted, or are they still all in a state of examination?
§ LORD BALOGHMy Lords, they are all in a state of examination as yet.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, can the Minister say whether these applications will be subject to the Mines and Quarries Act, under which no licences can be given where the number employed in a private mine is less than 25?
§ LORD BALOGHMore than 30, my Lords.