§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of the Valuation Office in the valuation of land where planning permission for the use of land for opencast extraction has been applied for but not been granted; and if he will make a statement on how those principles have been applied to Pwll Du.
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 15 February 1993]: The ownership of coal passed to the National Coal Board in 308W 1946, and although the British Coal Corporation-Opencast may make a compulsory rights order it is the corporation's policy to purchase land by agreement whenever possible.
The Valuation Office agency provides valuable advice to the corporation on many matters, including the purchase and management of land for opencast extraction.
Because the coal is already owned by the corporation, the granting of a planning permission for opencast extraction does not materially increase the value of the surface owner's interest, but he will normally be aware of the commercial realities of the situation and this may be reflected in the agreement between the parties.
The value of the vendor's interest is assessed by the local district valuer, and he will have full regard to the circumstances of the purchase, to any conditions to be imposed, to the planning position, and to the relative bargaining strengths of the parties concerned.