§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will seek to set up an independent commission to take over the National Coal Board's powers to deal with the effiects of coal mining subsidence;
(2) if he will seek to amend the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act 1957 to impose a requirement on the National Coal Board to restore damaged houses to their undamaged standard rather than to make them reasonably fit as at present;
(3) if he will seek to amend the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act 1957 to impose a requirement on the National Coal Board to pay for causing consequential losses due to subsidence, such as loss of earnings and inconvenience;
(4) if he will seek to amend the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act 1957 to impose a requirement on the National Coal Board to pay for the full loss of any value to houses due to coal mining subsidence.
§ Mr. EadieThe present arrangements, including the National Coal Board's code of practice and the agreement with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, seem to give a reasonable balance between the need for fair compensation, on the one hand, and avoiding unreasonable burdens on the coal industry, on the other. However, as my hon. Friend is aware, my Department and the board are looking to see whether any improvements can usefully be made. There is also statutory provision for the determination of disputes in the courts or by the Lands Tribunal and the board has said it would agree to arbitration on any question arising on the operation of the code of practice.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy on what date he last discussed the operation of the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act 1957 with the chairman of the National Coal Board.