§ 58. Sir A. SPROTasked the Secretary for Mines how much money is in hand from the levy imposed upon mining royalties for the purpose of providing pit-head baths for miners; if his Department has now settled upon the best system of providing pit-head baths; and if any have been commenced or planned since the Mining Industry Act was passed?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThe amount received from Royalties Welfare Levy up to the 31st October was £195,000. To this should be added £2,881 on account of interest, and £91,726 which the Miners' Welfare Committee have allocated for baths from the Miners' Welfare Fund. The duty of providing baths rests upon the Miners' Welfare Committee and not upon my Department. The policy of the committee is fully explained in their Fifth Annual Report. They are testing a new type of pit-head bath by erecting four demonstration installations of that type in different parts of the country. One of these is half finished, the others have been planned, but have not yet reached the constructional stage.
§ Mr. PALINGCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any application has been made for this money by the various colliery companies who are going to erect baths, and whether any money has been granted from this fund?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThe hon. Gentleman must give notice of that question.