§ LORD RANKEILLOURasked His Majesty's Government how many rights to work minerals have been granted under the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act, 1923; whether any local inquiries for the purposes of that Act have been held by the Railway and Canal Commissioners; and what persons are entitled to be heard at such inquiries in opposition to the granting of such rights?
§ LORD TEMPLEMORE (FOR THE EARL OF MUNSTER)Since 1st January, 1924, the rights granted by the Railway and Canal Commission in respect of applications under the provisions of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act, 1923, or jointly under that Act and under Part II of the Mining Industry Act, 1926, number 112. These rights include the right to work minerals and a variety of other rights ancillary thereto. I could not, without longer notice, give the exact nature of the separate rights which have been granted, but I have ventured to assume that what the noble Lord chiefly desires is a general idea of the extent to which these Working Facilities Statutes have been effective. In addition, we have good reason to believe that the mere existence of the powers given under these Statutes has resulted in a large number of other disputes being settled privately without recourse to the Court.
With regard to the second and third parts of the noble Lord's question, at the hearing of the summons for directions in each case, the applicant is required to serve notice on the parties directly interested and to advertise and publish notices in the local Press and elsewhere, giving full particulars of the application so as to enable any other party interested to apply for leave to appear at the hearing. I understand that no inquiries have been held locally by the Commission.
House adjourned at eight o'clock.