asked the Minister of Agriculture in how many cases the restoration of top soil on sites formerly worked for opencast coal has commenced before inspection by A.E.Cs.; and what steps are taken by his Department to protect the interests of the occupiers of the land so restored.

The agricultural executive committees are consulted at a very early stage in the work of restoration and invariably before the top soil is spread on the surface of the site. The committees take charge of the sites after the top soil has been spread satisfactorily, and from that stage onwards they are responsible for the further measures of restoration, such as seeding to grass, cultivation, manuring, and grazing. Sites are not released from requisition until the committees are satisfied that the restoration has been properly carried out.

May I send the Minister particulars of a case where restoration did take place before the agricultural executive committee had inspected the site; and would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that where land has been so restored and the effect has been deleterious, it is extremely unfair unless the agricultural executive committee and the Minister back him up?

I should like to see the case the hon. Member has in mind; I will certainly look into it.

Mr. Baldwin:

Is the Minister aware that, in spite of what the Minister of Fuel and Power has said these opencast mining areas do not keep the top soil separate, and the result is that when the ground is levelled it is completely sterile.

If the hon. Member will give me a specific case, I will have it looked into.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of land restored after opencast coalmining during the previous 12 months have been cropped for cereals; what has been the percentage crop compared with the local average on normal land; and if he is satisfied that this cropping policy should be continued on sites due to be restored in the next two years.

As a general rule, land restored after opencast coal mining is first sown to grass. Occasionally, owing to the urgent need for increased cereal production, it has been decided to crop land for cereals. Of the land restored during the past 12 months some 470 acres were sown to cereals and the yield is expected to average some 50–60 per cent. of the local average on normal land. The question whether land should be cropped or sown to grass is decided on the merits of the particular site, the nature of the top soil, and other local factors. The experience gained on sites already cropped with cereals will be a useful guide.

Would the Minister bear in mind that the fertility of these sites when they have been restored is likely to be low to start with, even supposing they produce 50 or 60 per cent. of the normal crops, and will he give some assurance that this policy will not be continued longer than absolutely necessary?

I am quite satisfied that the county agricultural executive committees who have charge in the early days of restoration know just what the qualities of the soil are, what the sites are like, and what is best to do with them in the early days.