§ 52. Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the Prime Minister the total sums of money for which sanction has been given by the Coal Controller or the Treasury to the colliery concerns of the United Kingdom for development work or other capital expenditure out of their profits since the institution of the Coal Control; and if he will cause a Return to be presented to this House showing these sums for each individual colliery concern in the United Kingdom?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI regret that I cannot give the information desired, as information such as this which has been obtained from the collieries under Sections 17–19 of the Coal Mines Control Agreement (Confirmation) Act, 1918, must, by the provisions of Section 20 of that Act, be treated as strictly confidential.
§ Mr. EDWARDSDoes that mean that this House is to be called upon to vote in favour of increased price for coal without being placed in possession of the aggregate 1356 figures under this head? If the right hon. Gentleman cannot give details of the collieries concerned, can he inform the House of the total sum of money which has been sanctioned by either the Coal Controller or the Treasury to be devoted out of profits by way of capital expenditure?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI will look into that.