§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Preston Grange Colliery and Firebrick Works, East Lothian, have been ruined and closed by the royalties and wayleaves taken by the Crown and others; whether he is aware that about 250 workmen have been thrown out of employment thereby; and whether he will reduce the royalties in the interests of the trade and business of the country?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI have been in communication with the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and with the Official Liquidator of the Company, and am satisfied that, so far as the Crown is concerned, the failure of the Company is not in any way due to the payment of royalties. The royalty is a small one, and the average for the last seven years has been equivalent to about 2½d. per ton. The total amount paid to the Crown since 1875 has been about £5,100. The debts of the Company amount to £63,000.