42. Mr. W. M. WATSONasked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been drawn to a scheme promoted by the Scottish coalowners for regulating the selling price of coal; and can he say in what respects it differs from the schemes proposed by coalowners in other districts?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSAs the reply involves a long statement, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ The main provisions of the selling schemes now under consideration in the coal industry are summarised below:
§ Scottish Scheme.
- (a) A tonnage levy on all coal raised, except coal for shipment, and coal for associated and ancillary undertakings.
- (b) A special tonnage levy on coal for certain scheduled classes of consumers.
- (c) Payment of compensation out of the funds raised by the special and general levies in respect of the curtailment or output capacity.
§ South wales Scheme.
- (a) A tonnage levy on all coal raised.
- (b) The grouping of coals and the fixing of prices for each group.
- (e) Penalties for selling below the minimum prices.
- (d) The payment of compensation out of the funds raised by the levy and the penalties in respect of shifts lost through the operation of the minimum prices.
§ Midland Scheme.
- (a) Fixing of basic tonnage for each undertaking on the basis of the output in any of the 15 years ended 31st December, 1927, selected by the undertaking.
- (b) The restriction of output by the application of a quota percentage to basic tonnages.
- (c) Penalties for raising coal in excess of the quota.
- (d) A tonnage levy on all coal raised.
- (e) The payment, out of the funds raised by the levy and the penalties, of financial assistance to coal exported.
- (f) The consideration of the formation of a central shipping bureau to deal with sales for export.