MR. PRITCHARD MORGAN (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to reduce the royalties on gold and silver in Wales and in Ireland in private lands to the same amount as the royalties have lately been reduced in the case of one mine in private lands in Wales; and, if not, why not?
§ * THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square)I have already stated that under similar circumstances similar treatment will be given to mines in Wales and Ireland, but that the case of each mine must be considered separately.
MR. PRITCHARD MORGANDoes the right hon. Gentleman anticipate that people are likely to open mines unless they know the terms beforehand?
§ MR. J. O'CONNORIs the difference between the royalty in Ireland and Wales 5 per cent. and 1 per cent. respectively?
§ * MR. GOSCHENI do not know at this moment whether in the case of Ireland 5 per cent. is charged. Any change in the royalty would apply equally in Wales and Ireland. The sliding scale has been offered in Ireland. It is quite possible that mines in Ireland have not been worked, and that, therefore, no concession has been asked for.
MR. PRITCHARD MORGANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it has not been represented to him by the mining authorities that the sliding scale in metalliferous mines is utterly impracticable and unworkable?