§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the changes in legislation which would be necessary to enable an oil company to enter the coalmining industry by opening up new coalmines.
§ Mr. John Moore[pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1980, c. 522]: The main changes required would be to the provisions which vest all the United Kingdom's reserves of coal in the NCB (Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, s.5) and empower it to mine coal in the United Kingdom to the exclusion of any other person (Coal Industry Nationalisation Act s.1 (1)). It would also be necessary to review the law on health and safety at work, environmental matters and other subjects so far as they relate to coal mining as well as the provisions relating to the licensing of mines by the NCB and the position of consumer councils.
145WThe statutes in force principally relevant to coal mining are listed under the heading "Mines and Quarries" in the Index to the Statutes.