HC Deb 09 May 1901 vol 93 c1161
MR. M'KENNA

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can inform the House of the estimate he made of the average cost per ton of coal produced in 1897, for all expenses other than miners' wages; and whether his estimate of cost per ton included the charge in respect of royalties and way-leaves.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I have made no such estimate as is referred to in the question. My statement of the value at the pit's mouth of coal raised in various years was based on the Home Office statistics. The average increase of coalowners' expenses since 1897 would not be materially affected by royalties.

MR. M'KENNA

The right hon. Gentleman said the expenses other than wages had increased 6d. in three years. How did he get the figures except from an official estimate?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

That is not the question on the Paper.

MR. M'KENNA

How did the right hon. Gentleman estimate the increase unless he knew what the original amount was?

[No answer was returned.]