HC Deb 06 March 1912 vol 35 cc369-71
Mr. W. THORNE

asked the amount of money yielded in 1909 and 1910 from the mining royalties tax; what is the total amount received from royalties upon coal in the United Kingdom; what is the average rate of royalty per ton upon coal in France, Germany, and Belgium; and whether the royalty money in the countries mentioned is received by ground landlords or is devoted to national purposes?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The amount of Mineral Rights Duty collected for each of the financial years 1909–10 and 1910–11 was, approximately, £321,000. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's question it has been roughly estimated that the annual amount of royalties on coal is £6,000,000, but, as I explained on Monday in a reply to the hon. Member for Mansfield, I have not the necessary material for arriving at an exact and authoritative figure without very laborious research. As to the remainder of the question I regret that I have no information.

Sir A. MARKHAM

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware he did not state to the House that the amount was £6,000,000. I put a question to him, but he did not answer it.

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

My hon. Friend put another question to me on Monday, but I think it was not reached.

Mr. W. THORNE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if there has been any new royalty leases made since the Royalty Tax was put on, and, if so, whether the Royalty Tax has been increased?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

That I could not answer without notice.

Sir A. MARKHAM

Is it not a fact that the amount of royalties paid to the landlords exceed the total amount of dividends paid?

Mr. EDWARD WOOD

Can the right hon. Gentleman state what proportion the whole of the royalty charge bears to the whole cost of production?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

That is obviously a question I cannot answer without notice.

Sir A. MARKHAM

asked what is the average rent paid per ton of coal in the United Kingdom to the royalty owner?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I regret that accurate information on this point is not in the possession of any Department for which I am responsible, and could only be obtained by a laborious examination of some 10,000 assessments. On a very rough estimate, based on such incomplete material as is available, the average royalty per ton appears to be about 5½d.

Sir A. MARKHAM

In view of the Mineral Rights Duty, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps next year to ask the owners of minerals to separate the accounts, so that the Treasury can know what these royalties are?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I think that suggestion is very well worth consideration.

MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will also separate the Land Taxes?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I do not know what the Noble Lord is referring to. As a matter of fact, they are separated now.

Forward to