§ 9. Sir PARK GOFFasked the President of the Board of Trade what means 1267 he has to propose for remedying the present depression in the iron and steel trades?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have at present nothing to add to previous statements on this subject.
§ 16. Miss WILKINSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increasing unemployment in the heavy iron and steel trades, he will institute an inquiry into the effect on the price of steel of wayleaves and royalties on minerals entering into the production of iron and steel; and whether he will communicate the result of such inquiry to Parliament as early as possible?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Colonel Lane-Fox)No, Sir. Such an inquiry would be laborious, and I do not think it could possibly lead to any useful result. The burden of royalties cannot be a serious factor in the causes of the present depression in the iron and steel trades; and, in any case, it could not be removed without provision for compensation that would impose an equivalent burden.
§ Miss WILKINSONIs not the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that it is estimated that these royalties amount to at least 10s. per ton of manufactured steel, and that this forms a very serious factor in our competition with Germany, where the royalties are nationalised and the amount is not more than 2 per cent., according to answers that have been given to questions in this House?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that four tons of coal are required to produce one ton of steel, and that the average royalty per ton of coal is 6d.?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXI do not accept those figures as accurate, certainly not as regards the royalties on every ton of steel produced. If the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Miss Wilkinson) has any figures that she would like to lay before me, I shall be very glad to consider them.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs not the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, owing to royalties and wayleaves, in Cumberland we had, when we were working ore, to work about 50 per cent. more shafts than we need have done, thus adding to the 1268 cost of fuel, because of this stupid system of wayleaves?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXThat has nothing to do with the question on the Paper.
Mr. T. THOMSONDoes not the Minister think, with such a conflict of opinion as to what the amounts are, it is desirable that we should have official information as to what the facts really are on this most important question to industries which are so terribly depressed?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXI do not think it requires such an inquiry as is asked for.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that the royalties are on ore as well as on coal?
§ Mr. MARDY JONESAre not the Government seriously considering the question of the ascertainment of all these mining royalties?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is becoming a Debate.