55Health and safety regulations as to rescue service
(1)The power to make health and safety regulations shall include power, in relation to any requirement of any such regulations that a person carrying on coal-mining operations is to be a participant in a mine rescue scheme approved by the Secretary of State, to provide—
(a)for approval to be given to or withdrawn from any scheme only after such consultation as may be specified or described in the regulations; and
(b)for the approved schemes to be confined to those which appear to the Secretary of State to be such as secure that it is reasonably practicable for every licensed operator who is required to do so to participate, on reasonable terms, in an approved scheme.
(2)In subsection (1) above the references to a mine rescue scheme are references to any scheme or other arrangements the participants in which are entitled, in an emergency, to the services of persons with the expertise and equipment required for rescuing individuals from underground.
(3)In subsection (1) above “health and safety regulations” means regulations under section 15 of the [1974 c. 37.] Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; and the preceding provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to the generality of any provisions of that Act as to the matters that may be included in any such regulations.