§ Mr. Blytonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will consider the building of pack-walls on all long wall faces at short distances in the mines, so as to minimise the subsidence of the strata and thereby prevent the sterilisation of land for building purposes in mining areas.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe only effective means of minimising subsidence where there is total extraction of coal is by solid stowing as practised in certain conditions in some mines on the Continent. In general, however, the existing lay-out of British mines precludes the application of this method of stowing in this country.
As regards the last part of the Question, the closest co-operation is maintained between my Department and the Ministry of Town and Country Planning and the other Departments concerned and also with the colliery companies with the object of ensuring that the maximum area of stable land for building purposes in mining areas is made available compatible with the least possible degree of sterilisation of coal.