§ Mr. Bartleyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) if he will include in the proposed legislation in regard to coal mining subsidence damage, protection for tenant farmers claiming compensation for crop damages due to coal mining subsidence;
(2) whether he will include in the proposed prospective legislation for the implementation of the Turner Committee Report in regard to coal mining subsidence the recommendations of the committee in regard to agricultural land held by the National Coal Board and for the termination of crop damage free tenancy agreements.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesWhile the details of a Bill are being worked out, I can add little to the statement I made on 16th April in reply to the hon. Members for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler), Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) and Leigh (Mr. Boardman); but the Government do not consider that there are sufficient grounds for transferring land held by the National Coal Board to a Government authority.