§ MR. M'KENNAI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he could give an estimate of the average charge per ton of coal produced in the United Kingdom in respect of royalties and way-leaves.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo, Sir; no recent estimate could be given.
§ MR. M'KENNACan the right hon. Gentleman give the most recent estimate?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI think the most recent estimate is to be found in the Report of the Mining Royalties Commission in 1889. In that year it was estimated that the coal royalties came to £4,000,000, and the way-leaves to about £200,000.