IRONSTONE WORKINGS (LAND) (Hansard, 10 February 1955)

§ Mr. Mitchison
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement as to the progress in levelling land left derelict from past ironstone workings.

§ Mr. Sandys
A total of 552 acres has been levelled or is in process of being levelled under Section 16 of the Mineral252W Workings Act, 1951. Further areas are under consideration by the county councils concerned.

§ Mr. Mitchison
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what local authorities in the county of Northampton he has authorised by consent under subsection (2) or authorisation under subsection (3) of Section 17 of the Mineral Workings Act, 1951, to acquire land; and, in each case, how many acres and when.

§ Mr. Sandys
No local authority has so far asked for approval to acquire land under Section 17 of the Mineral Workings Act, 1951.

§ Mr. Mitchison
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what local authorities and operators in the county of Northampton he has, during the financial year ended 31st March, 1953 and 1954, given approval of expenditure incurred in or in respect of carrying out works under Sections 16 and 18 of the Mineral Workings Act, 1951; and as regards what acreage in each case.

§ Mr. Sandys
I have not so far been asked to approve any expenditure incurred by ironstone operators in the county of Northampton. Approval was given to the Northampton County Council in respect of 85 acres in the year ended 31st March, 1953, 149 acres in the year ended 31st March, 1954, and a further 267 acres in the current financial year.

§ Mr. Mitchison
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what tonnage of iron ore, and over what acreage. was extracted in each of the financial years ended 31st March, 1953 and 1954, in each of the areas mentioned in the First Schedule of the Minerals Workings Act, 1951, and the county districts, respectively, of Corby, Kettering rural, and Brixworth; and over how many acres in each such area and county district restoration was begun, completed, and in progress during each of those financial years.

§ Mr. Sandys
The information, so far as I am at liberty to disclose it is set out in the table below. The figures for Kettering Rural District, Corby Urban District, and Brixworth Rural District taken together are 4,130,000 tons and 230 acres for the year ended the 31st March, 1953, 253W and 3,620,000 tons and 202 acres for the year ended 31st March, 1954. Except for certain small areas which are to be used

TONNAGE OF IRON ORE EXTRACTED BY OPENCAST OPERATIONS AND ACREAGE OF LAND WORKED IN THE IRONSTONE DISTRICT IN THE FINANCIAL YEARS ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1953 AND 31ST MARCH, 1954

County Year ended 31st March, 1953 Year ended 31st March, 1954

Tonnage (to nearest 1,000 tons) Acreage (estimated) Tonnage (to nearest 1,000 tons) Acreage (estimated)

Leicester … … 4,187,000 53 3,826,000 54

Lincoln (Parts of Kesteven) … … 80 64

Oxford … … 43 43

Northampton … … 5,301,000 291 4,919,000 271

Soke of Peterborough … … Nil Nil Nil Nil

Rutland … … 1,082,000 50 1,225,000 55

Warwick … … Nil Nil Nil Nil

TOTAL … … 13,535,000 561 13,006,000 532

TONNAGE OF IRON ORE EXTRACTED BY OPENCAST OPERATIONS AND ACREAGE OF LAND WORKED IN THE IRONSTONE DISTRICT IN THE FINANCIAL YEARS ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1953 AND 31ST MARCH, 1954
County	Year ended 31st March, 1953	Year ended 31st March, 1954
Tonnage (to nearest 1,000 tons)	Acreage (estimated)	Tonnage (to nearest 1,000 tons)	Acreage (estimated)
Leicester	…	…	4,187,000	53	3,826,000	54
Lincoln (Parts of Kesteven)	…	…	80	64
Oxford	…	…	43	43
Northampton	…	…	5,301,000	291	4,919,000	271
Soke of Peterborough	…	…	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Rutland	…	…	1,082,000	50	1,225,000	55
Warwick	…	…	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
TOTAL	…	…	13,535,000	561	13,006,000	532