§ 4. Mr. HARDIEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the White Paper [Cmd. 2538] dealing with the Scottish shale industry does 221 not give the capital of the industry prior to its absorption by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited; and will he procure the figures to make the Report complete?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe paid up capital of the Scottish shale oil companies before the formation of Scottish Oils, Limited, on 3rd September, 1919, was that given on page 14 of the White Paper, no change having taken .place between that date and the 30th September, 1925, except in the case of the Scottish Oil Agency, Limited, of which the paid up capital was increased from £100,000 to £125,000 during the year 1920.
§ Mr. HARDIEWhat is the intention of a White Paper if it does not go back far enough to give a comparison of the earnings of these companies?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt does go back. As I have already pointed out the hon. Member did not ask me about earnings, but about capital. It gives the capital both before and after amalgamation.
§ Mr. HARDIEIt does not give the capital of single companies showing the earnings on the actual capital.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIf the hon. Member will look at the last page of the White Paper, he will see the capital of each of these companies.
§ Mr. HARDIEBut that is not the actual capital used in the production.