OUTLINE OF MINING LAW OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES

The mining laws of England and Scotland are based on the common law, which has been modified and added to by many acts. There has been no general codification. Mining is big business in the United Kingdom. Oil, gas and coal are won on a large scale. China clay is mined and exported. Until recently about a quarter of the country's requirements of tin were met by domestic output-although, owing to the low price at the time of writing, production has been curtailed. Small amounts of copper, zinc and silver are also produced. Materials for road construction and building are quarried and one of the largest firms concerned has recently expanded into Europe. The ARC quarries owned by Consolidated Gold Fields were one of the assets sought by Minorco in 1989. Many non-British concerns are active in the United Kingdom's oil industry. An attempt is made to summarize the mining law of England, Wales and Scotland. It is hoped that the outline given will assist in detailed research and offer guidance to persons wishing to embark on mineral exploitation or considering investment. Attention is also drawn to the recent privatization of the electric power and gas industries and the intention of the present Government to follow suit as regards coal mining. The subject of mining law is discussed under the headings: minerals or rights that have been nationalized or are vested in the Crown; ownership (of land and mineral rights); special customs; tracing of owners; right of support (arising from mining); ancillary rights and easements; obtaining prospecting and mining rights; planning permission; statutory aids to obtaining rights; notes on the history, law and practices of petroleum (onshore and offshore), gas, coal, prescribed substances and gold and silver; electricity; safety, health and welfare; and technical information and boreholes.