(1)The provisions of a licence under this Part shall specify or describe the coal-mining operations which, subject to its conditions, are authorised by the licence.
(2)The provisions included in a licence in pursuance of subsection (1) above—
(a)shall identify the area of Great Britain, of the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain or of the continental shelf where the operations are to be carried on; and
(b)may restrict the authorisation contained in the licence to operations carried on within such period as may be specified in the licence or as may be determined in a manner so specified;
and provision made by virtue of paragraph (a) above may include restrictions as to the depth at which any operations are to be carried on.
(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2)(b) above, a licence under this Part may provide—
(a)for the coming into force of the authorisation contained in the licence, or of any conditions or other provisions of the licence, to be postponed until after the acquisition by the holder of the licence of any interest or right in or in relation to any land or other property or until after such other requirements as may be specified or described in the licence have been satisfied; and
(b)for the licence to lapse if the interest or right is not acquired, or the other requirements are not satisfied, within such period as may be so specified.
(4)Without prejudice to subsection (5) below, the persons who, so long as the authorisation remains in force, are authorised to carry on the operations to which a licence under this Part relates are the holder of the licence and such other persons as may be authorised by the licence or, without any contravention of the conditions of the licence, by the holder of the licence to carry on those operations on his behalf.
(5)A licence under this Part may contain provision which, in such cases, in such manner and subject to such conditions or consents as may be specified in or required by the provisions of the licence, authorises the transfer of any person’s rights and obligations as holder of the licence to another person.
(6)Without prejudice to any provision made by virtue of section 28(7) below, the conditions and other provisions of a licence under this Part may be modified by the Authority with the agreement of the holder of the licence.