HC Deb 26 April 1928 vol 216 cc1078-80
57. Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can place in the Library of this House any balance sheet or statement giving details of the financial results of the working of the State-owned mines in Bokharo, Ramgarh, Kurhurbaree, Kargali, Mohpani, and Sawang, other than are given in the Report of the Railway Board on Indian Railways for 1926–27?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)

I have no information other than that contained in the Report referred to.

Mr. JOHNSTON

In view of the widespread public interest in the results of all experiments with regard to the most efficient working of coal pits in this country, could not the Noble Lord see that we are supplied with the fullest possible information in regard to this experiment in India?

Earl WINTERTON

I do not think the Government of India ought to be asked to supply information for the purposes of domestic controversy in this country. It would not be possible to give actual balance-sheets in these cases, because a great many of these mines supply coal to the railways which is not charged for. I can hold out no hope that it will be possible to give statistics of the kind for which the hon. Member asks.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Is not the Noble Lord aware that, in the Report on the railways of India, no financial results are given whatever?

Earl WINTERTON

If the hon. Member would be good enough to read the statement, of which I shall be pleased to send him a copy, made by the Member in charge when he introduced the Railway Budget in the Assembly, he will see that a very careful account was given of the railways of India including the financial results of the railways as a whole, which are what the public of India are interested in; but the public of India are not interested in the domestic controversies of this country.

Mr. JOHNSTON

May I point out that my question is directed to securing information, not about the general results of railway nationalisation in India, of which we can get full particulars in the Library, but about the great experiment in the public ownership of coal mines?

Earl WINTERTON

The Report in question does give a great deal of information about these particular coal mines, but it is difficult to give a balance-sheet or statement of detailed financial results, because, as I understand, the railways themselves use a great deal of coal from these mines which is not charged for in the balance-sheet.

Mr. J. HUDSON

Is not the Noble Lord aware that this is not merely a question of national or domestic controversy in this country, but is a question of national and Imperial development, and that it is for that purpose that we require this information?

Earl WINTERTON

No doubt the information, if it is available, and is asked for in the Assembly, will be given there.

58. Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the average cost per ton of coal at the State coalfield in Bokharo, Ramgarh, for the year 1926–27 was about 4s. 2d.; and how this price compares with the price at private enterprise mines in Bihar and Orissa, and what proportion of it went to the labourers employed in and about the mine?

Earl WINTERTON

In 1926–27 the average cost of a ton of coal raised in the company and State collieries at Bokharo, Ramgarh, was Rs.2.71 (nearly 4s. 1d.). It is only since the Government took over the East Indian Railway from the company at the end of 1924 that the State has had any direct interest in these collieries. The information asked for in the last two parts of the question is not available. The Indian Coal Committee in 1925 estimated the average raising cost per ton in the Jharia coalfield at Its.5. The hon. Member will, of course, understand that the cost of production must depend largely on the nature of the seam encountered in particular mines.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Could the Noble Lord get this information for the benefit of the House?

Earl WINTERTON

If it is available I will get it, but I cannot undertake to make arrangements which would involve unnecessary cost to the Government of India to obtain information unless it is required in India itself. I will supply the hon. Member with any information that is available, but I do not think there is information available as to the number of private enterprise mines in Bihar and Orissa.

Mr. WA R DLAW-MILNE

Is it not the case that the mines in question are, from the point of view of results, merely in the same position as any private enterprise mines inasmuch as they were only recently taken over?