§ 12. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of States for the Colonies whether the' Niger Company receives a proportion of the royalties payable to the Nigerian Government on all the tin mined in Nigeria, and, if so, what proportion; whether it receives a proportion of all rents paid to the Government in respect of all mining leases, rights, and licences in Nigeria, and, if so, in what proportion; and what sum was paid to the Niger Company in 1923 and 1924, respectively, under these headings?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore); As the hon. and gallant Member will see, if he will refer to page 4 of C. 9372, half the royalties levied on all minerals exported from Nigeria, which have been won in that part of the Northern Provinces which is bounded on the west by the main stream of the Niger, and on the east by a line from Yola to Zinder, is payable to the Niger Company or its assigns for a period of 99 years from the revocation of the Charter of the Royal Niger Company. The term "royalties" is held to include the fees charged for prospecting licences and mining leases. The sum paid over to the Niger Company in 1922–23 was £18,543, and in the six months ending September, 1923. £20,133. I have not the figures for 1924.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHas the Colonial Office in view the revision of this arrangement, especially in the case of a greatly increased output of minerals in this area?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAs this would involve a revocation of the Agreement, I do not see how it would be possible to reopen the matter.