They can, just not for some things: "With the exception of oil, gas, coal, gold and silver, the state does not own mineral rights in the UK. Generally minerals

They can, just not for some things: "With the exception of oil, gas, coal, gold and silver, the state does not own mineral rights in the UK. Generally minerals are held in private ownership, and information on mineral rights, where available, is held by the Land Registry together with details of land surface ownership." https://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/planning/legislation/mineralOwnership.html https://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/planning/legislation/minera...