§ 37. Mr. JENKINSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was 1538 the estimated cost to the State of the coal stoppage in 1912, 1920, and 1921, respectively?
Mr. GUINNESSI regret that I am not in a position to give authoritative figures in reply to this question. Such figures as were available were given in 1921 in reply to questions in the House on 5th July and 18th August of that year, and amounted to £46 million.
§ 38. Mr. JENKINSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the estimated loss of revenue to the State in the coal stoppages of 1912, 1920, and 1921, respectively, and the decreased export coal values for each of the years?
Mr. GUINNESSThe loss to the Customs and Excise revenue was estimated immediately after the several coal stoppages to be approximately as follows:
These sums represent the immediate losses so far as discernible at the time, and do not take account of any after effects on the revenue, which, in the nature of the case, could not be measured.
£ 1912 … … … 800,000 1920 … … … 2,250,000 1921 … … … 3,100,000 As regards Inland Revenue, I regret that there are no data for making a reliable estimate of the kind which the hon. Member desires.
With regard to export coal values, the effect of a dispute or a stoppage of work at the mines does not necessarily involve a lessened revenue from the coal which is exported, since diminished supplies may be followed by a disproportionate increase in the prices of those which are available. I am accordingly advised by the Mines Department that it is practically impossible to state what has been the direct effect of a stoppage of work on the revenue from the export of coal.