MR. EVANS (Glamorgan, Mid.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that over £5,000,000 are paid annually in this country as royalties on coal, and having regard also to the frequency of disasters and accidents to workers in coal mines, and to the wide-spread distress caused thereby, the Government will give facilities for the passing of a short measure through Parliament to provide that royalty owners shall contribute a small percentage, say? per cent., out of the royalties they receive, towards establishing a national fund for the relief of such distress?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThe Government have no statistics which corroborate the figures given by the hon. Member, nor are the Government prepared to give any pledge with regard to a Bill which might seriously affect the relations of masters and men, and which might also have the very serious consequence of stopping the spontaneous generosity which has hitherto successfully dealt with distress arising from these calamities.