§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Power (1) what action is to be taken to make all costs for mining subsidence a charge on the Treasury; and if he will introduce legislation to provide that all reasonable precautions, including a raft foundation, shall be included in the construction of houses in all mining areas;
(2) if he is aware that the Coal-Mining (Subsidence) Act, 1957, has not given full protection to those whose property has been affected by subsidence; whether he will introduce legislation to remedy this in the short term; and if, in preparing legislation, he will consult the National Coal Board and local authorities concerned.
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§ Mr. John MorrisThe 1957 Act represented a broad compromise between surface and underground interests, made the National Coal Board responsible for all structural damage, looked after most cases of hardship, and provided incentives both for the Board and surface developers to minimise the incidence of damage caused by subsidence. My right hon. Friend will keep the working of the legislation under review, but he sees no sufficient reason at present for disturbing the settlement reached in 1957.