HC Deb 12 July 1978 vol 953 cc565-6W
Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what finance is available to tenants suffering mining subsidence to enable them to obtain legal advice or legal representation against the National Coal Board.

Mr. Benn

The settlement of mining subsidence claims is mainly a matter for surveyors and valuers, and for this reason the National Coal Board normally contributes towards surveyors' fees which may be incurred by a claimant. The great majority of claims do not require separate legal advice but, in cases of unusual complexity or where personal hardship might otherwise be caused, the board will consider making a contribution towards a claimant's costs in obtaining legal advice. This would be a matter for negotiation.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the board's recent publication "Compensation for Mining Subsidence Damage—Supplement on Claimant's Surveyors Fees", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will appoint a committee of inquiry to review the Mining Subsidence Act 1957 in order to consider if more adequate compensation should be paid to tenants affected by such subsidence.

Mr. Bean

No. May I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the House on 2nd March 1976 accepting the recommendations of the Working Group on Mining Subsidence Compensation—[Vol. 906, c. 497–98].

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the National Coal Board's publication "Compensation for Mining Subsidence Damage", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. This incorporates the improvements in compensation referred to in my statement.