Written question asked by Bruce George (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 February 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 February 2001. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Thursday, 15 February 2001 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to compensate homeowners whose properties are unsaleable or have suffered undue financial loss in value due to their proximity to disused mineshafts.

Answer: Mr. Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to compensate home owners whose properties are unsaleable or have suffered undue financial loss in value due to their proximity to disused mineshafts. [149510] Mr. Hain: Where damage has been caused to property by disused coal mineshafts, home owners are entitled to have the damage made good, at no cost to themselves or their insurers, under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991. I intend to consider whether there are any steps which the Government might be able to take to deal with other forms of loss connected with disused mineshafts in the light of the final report from Heriot-Watt University on the relationship between coal mineshafts and property values in Stoke-on-Trent.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 149510; 363 c280-1W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Compensation Closures Coal Housing Mining Sales Valuation Subsidence Stoke on Trent
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk