§ 71. Mr. Bairdasked the Minister of Fuel and Power for what reasons the public were prohibited from digging for outcrop coal on Bentley Common during the present emergency.
§ Mr. ShinwellI am informed that part of Bentley Common is leased to a company for working outcrop clay and coal and that as a part of the area was in process of restoration, the public were warned by the owner that it was dangerous to trespass there owing to the operations of three tractors levelling the site. The report states that, in spite of the warning, coal pickers disturbed parts of the site that had already been levelled and also entered that part leased to the company. It is also alleged that the coal pickers did damage there and took coal from stocks accumulated by the company for sale to their customers whereupon the company erected a notice saying that persons entering the site without permission would be prosecuted.