Since the passing of the Mineral Workings Act 1951 there have been (1) changing pursuits in agriculture and improved methods of restoration, (2) continually rising costs of machinery and labour, and (3) nationalization of the steel industry.

Recently, a new Act was passed, namely the Mineral Workings Act 1971, to make further provision in relation to contributions to and payments out of the Ironstone Restoration Fund, and to abolish the Advisory Committee on Ironstone Restoration. This Act necessited new regulations as follows:

Statutory Instrument 1972 No. 210:

‘This Order prescribes the full and reduced rates of contributions to be paid by ironstone operators towards the Ironstone Restoration Fund under section 1 of the Mineral Workings Act 1971, in respect of ironstone extracted on or after 1 April 1971 and the sum which may be deducted from payments made under mining leases and mineral rights orders (in accordance with section 3 of that Act) in respect of full-rate contributions.’

Statutory Instrument 1972 No. 211:

‘Section 9 of the Mineral Workings Act 1951 provides that the rate of payments out of the Ironstone Restoration Fund to be made to ironstone operators in respect of the restoration of worked ironstone land in compliance with conditions of a planning permission shall represent the amount by which the estimated cost per acre of the work of restoration exceeds such sum per acre as the Minister may determine to be the standard rate. The Ironstone Restoration Fund (Standard Rate) Order 1955 determined that rate to be £110 per acre.

This Order made under section 3 of the Mineral Workings Act 1971 prescribes a new rate of £260 per acre in respect of all work completed after 31 March 1972.’