§ Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now announce the results of the Government's consideration of opencast coal policy and compensation.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesAs far as we can foresee, it will be necessary to maintain opencast coal production at a high level for at least ten years. In view of this, the Government have decided to make the following extra-statutory improvements in the compensation paid to the owners and occupiers of agricultural land requisitioned for opencast coal production :
- (a) the extra-statutory supplementary rental compensation normally paid to the occupiers of requisitioned agricultural land which is now at the same rate as the statutory rental compensation (or twice that rate in the case of certain small holdings) will be increased to three times that rate (or four times in the case of the small holdings);
- (b) the rehabilitation allowance which is paid in some cases to landowners at the time of derequisition to cover loss of full beneficial use of the agricultural land will in future be paid in all cases at a flat rate of one year's rental compensation ; in special cases it may be increased to a sum not exceeding two years' rental compensation. The allowance will, as now, be paid only on condition that the benefit is passed on to the occupiers ;
- (c) a further rehabilitation allowance equal to three years' rental compensation will be paid after derequisition to the owner of agricultural land for retention by him.
The improvements will apply as from 10th May, 1956, to land held under requisition then as well as to land requisitioned after that date.
My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and I 188W are discussing with the agricultural organisations the possibility of improving the Code of Restoration adopted in 1951.