§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to provide persons seeking compensation under the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act, 1957 with independent professional advice.
§ Mr. RidleyI see no reason to interfere with present arrangements, which enable most cases to be settled by mutual agreement and provide independent professional advice at the cost of the National Coal Board where this is necessary to reach a settlement and the claimant establishes that he has a good case.