§ 33. Mr. BATEYasked the Secretary for Mines the total amount paid as subsidy to the coal industry for the nine months ending 30th April, 1926; how much of the amount was taken as profits by the coal owners during that period; and how much was paid to royalty owners?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Colonel Lane Fox)The total amount of subvention for the nine months is estimated to amount to £23,300,000. As regards the second part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ilford on 14th June. No payment has been made to royalty owners in respect of subvention.
§ Mr. BATEYCould the Minister not tell us what were the profits to the owners during the nine months, and how much was paid to the royalty owners during the nine months?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, I cannot tell the hon. Member what was paid to the royalty owners. There was nothing to pay. I shall be able soon to give him the figures with regard to the owners, but I have not yet got the complete figures for the nine months.
§ Mr. BATEYIf the Minister says there was nothing paid to the royalty owners, where did they get it from if not from the subvention?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThey got it from sources other than the subvention.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESIs it not a fact that during the nine months during which 1138 the subsidy was granted to the coal industry, 30,000,000 tons of coal was produced over and above what would have been produced without the subsidy, and that, therefore, the royalty owners got the royalty on that output which they would not have got otherwise?
§ Mr. SPENCERHas the Minister not misapprehended the latter part of the question? It was not how much was paid out of the subvention, but how much was paid to the royalty owners.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs it the case that because of the lower price the 30 million tons were in fact sold?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere is a doubt as to the latter part of the question. Perhaps the hon. Member will put it down as a separate question.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not the case that the royalty owners of this country last year drew £6,500,000?
§ Mr. SPEAKERFurther questions should be put down.
§ Sir FREDRIC WISEWhen may I have a reply to the question to which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman referred?
§ Colonel LANE FOXAs soon as I have the figures. I have not yet got the figures for last month, but as soon as I have them, I will give them to the hon. Member.