§ 11. Colonel DAYasked the Secretary for Mines how many mines have been opened or reopened since 1st August, 1925; how many mines have been closed since that date; and what is the estimated cost to the State for the months of August, September, and October in respect of the subsidy in aid of wages?
§ 13. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary for Mines how many coal pits have been closed, how many old pits reopened, and how many new mines opened during the three months August, September, and October?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Colonel Lane-Fox)During the three months August, September and October, 111 coal mines, normally employing 29,124 wage-earners, have been closed and not reopened, while 99 mines at present employing 23,514 wage-earners have been reopened and 29 new mines at present-employing 503 wage-earners have been opened. With regard to the last part of the question I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I 180 gave yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Hackney South (Captain Garro-Jones).
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us— or find out —what has been the loss to the ratepayers owing to these mines being closed down?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXNo, Sir. I could not do so off-hand.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSAre we to understand from these figures that there are 53,000 fewer miners working now than when the subsidy was commenced?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXThat is not borne out by the figures I have given. You cannot take one set of figures without the other.
§ 12. Sir R. HAMILTON(for Mr. MORRIS) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state, to the last convenient date, the amount of subsidy owing and paid to the coal industry?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXThe total subvention for the three months to 31st October is estimated to amount to about £6,000,000. The amount paid up to that date was £4,847,626.
§ Mr. W. THORNECan the hon. and gallant Gentleman state the amount of money that has been paid to the miners themselves out of the subsidy, and the amount paid to the mine-owners?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXNo, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there is very little in the way of profit. There are only two districts in the months of August and September showing any profit at all.
§ Mr. MACLEANMay we take it from that, then, that the whole of the £6,000,000 has gone to the mine-owners?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXNo. The hon. Member may take it in exactly the opposite direction.
§ Mr. HARDIEHave the Secretary for Mines and his Department tried in these figures to show how much of that subsidy to the owners has gone to pits that were working when the subsidy was established and how much to pits that have been established since the subsidy was given?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXI must have notice of that question.