§ 2. Mr. BATEYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he proposes to report to the House before the end of the present Session the results of the Mining Industry Act, 1926?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Commodore Douglas King)The Mining In-dusty Act requires the presentation of a report, covering a period of two years from the passing of the Act, including not only such amalgamations and absorptions as have been carried through under the procedure laid down, but also all such other information and statistics relevant thereto as the Board of Trade may think fit. It will be desirable that the report should deal with the formation and progress of the District Schemes and any similar arrangements which may be in force. It would be possible to produce a report in strict conformity with the Act within a short time after 4th August. This would mean that the report would be published during the recess, and that a considerable time would elapse before Parliament met, with the result that the report would not contain the latest information available at the time at which the opportunity would arise for discussing it. It would, I think, be for the convenience of the House if a report were presented when Parliament reassembles, covering the two years ending on 4th August but including also any relevant information which may be available up to the date of the report.