Catalogue description Ministry of Technology and Department of Trade and Industry and successors: Mineral Development Division and Minerals, Metals and Engineering Division: Registered Files (MD Series)

This series is arranged in departmental reference order.

The MD file series was created for the Ministry of Technology's Mineral Development Division in 1969. Consisting of four branches, the Division had general policy responsibilities in all areas of mineral development. It was particularly concerned with facilitating and encouraging the search for, and exploitation of minerals (other than coal, petroleum and iron ore); the preparation of mineral rights legislation; fiscal and economic questions; land use policy in relation to minerals; and liaison with other Government Departments and outside bodies, including the Institute of Geological Sciences.

In 1970, following the formation of the Department of Trade and Industry from the merger of the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Technology, the Mineral Development Division's responsibilities were passed to the Mineral Development Branch, one of five branches in the DTI's new Minerals, Metals, Paper and Timber Division.

After further administrative reorganisation in February 1971, responsibility for mineral development policy passed to the newly created Minerals, Metals and Electrical Engineering Division in the DTI.