Part I

Re-organisation of Coal Industry

The Coal Authority

Establishment of the Coal Authority
1
1
There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Coal Authority (in this Act referred to as “the Authority”) for the purpose of—
a
holding, managing and disposing of interests and rights in or in relation to the unworked coal and other property which is transferred to or otherwise acquired by it by or under this Act;
b
carrying out functions with respect to the licensing of coal-mining operations;
c
carrying out functions with respect to coal-mining subsidence and in connection with other matters incidental to the carrying on of any opencast or other coal-mining operations;
d
facilitating the establishment and maintenance of arrangements for the information to which persons are to be entitled under this Act to be made available to them; and
e
carrying out the other functions conferred on it by virtue of this Act.
2
The Authority shall consist of not less than two nor more than eight members appointed by the Secretary of State.
3
The Secretary of State shall designate one of the members appointed under this section as the chairman of the Authority and may, if he thinks fit, designate another such member as its deputy chairman.
4
In appointing a person to be a member of the Authority, the Secretary of State shall have regard to the desirability of appointing a person who has experience of, and has shown capacity in, some matter relevant to its functions.
5
The Authority shall not be regarded—
a
as the servant or agent of the Crown, or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown; or
b
by virtue of any connection with the Crown, as exempt from any tax, duty, rate, levy or other charge whatsoever, whether general or local;
and the Authority’s property shall not be regarded as property of, or property held on behalf of, the Crown.
6
The provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Authority and its finances.