§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he now expects the report of the subsidence compensation review committee to be published.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe report of the subsidence compensation review committee, chaired by Mr. Lewis Waddilove, CBE, JP has been published today. The report, which was commissioned by the Government last year, and is jointly addressed to the Secretaries of State for 95W Energy, the Environment, Scotland and Wales, recommends changes in the provisions and practices of the coal mining subsidence compensation scheme.
The Government have thanked the committee for the effort and care put into its report. This constitutes a very thorough analysis of the current compensation scheme, as well as making a wide range of carefully considered proposals on how it might be improved. The Government welcome the committee's efforts to strike a balance between the benefits to individuals and the costs to the NCB in coming to their conclusions and will wish to consider the committee's judgments most carefully before responding to the report.
Interested parties will be consulted, especially those who gave evidence to the committee, and account will be aken of other comments received before 31 July. The Government expect to make a full response to the committee's recommendations before the end of the year.
Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.