§ 44. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that Messrs. Pease and Partners, coalowners, show in the annual report a profit of £528,579, and the undivided profit of last year was £125,175, making a grand total of £653,754; if he is aware that the authorised capital of the company is £3,000,000, of which £2,186,399 has been paid up; and how many collieries the firm in question controls?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. S. Baldwin)I have been asked to reply. The figures which the hon. Member quotes appear in the company's published report for the year ended 80th April, 1921. The profits are in part only derived from coal mining, the company's undertaking, including coking, by-product, chemical, briquetting, iron and salt work, in which a large proportion of its capital is invested. The company works 16 coal mines and controls four other undertakings comprising coal mines.
§ Mr. W. THORNEMay I ask whether this company is one of those which is depriving the miners of a living wage?