HC Deb 02 May 1928 vol 216 cc1716-7
51 and 52. Mr. BATEY

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) the total amount paid as local rates in each mining district by coal companies and the rates per ton output during the latest available six months;

(2) the total amount paid to royalty owners in each mining district and the amount per ton output during the latest available six months?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Commodore Douglas King)

As the reply involves a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. BATEY

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us what are the rates per ton, as asked for in the first question?

Commodore KING

The answer is in tabular form, and if the hon. Member will read it in the OFFICIAL REPORT, that will be the more convenient course.

Mr. BATEY

We are rather interested to have the rates per ton. It will not take a second for the hon. and gallant Gentleman to tell us.

Commodore KING

If the hon. Member wants it for the whole country, the average local rates per ton on saleable coal raised—

Mr. BATEY

I want the districts.

HON. MEMBERS

Circulate the reply.

Mr. LUNN

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that his predecessor has on various occasions answered a question in this House, to the effect that royalty owners pay nothing to local rates on the royalties which they receive?

Commodore KING

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

Following are the figures:

ESTIMATED AMOUNT of ROYALTIES and LOCAL RATES in the Principal Colliery Districts and in Great Britain during the six months ended 31st December, 1927.
District. Royalties. Local Rates.
Amount. Per ton of Saleable Coal raised. Amount. Per ton of Saleable Coal raised.
£ d. £ d.
Scotland 441,500 6.16 124,300 1.73
Northumberland 158,000 5.83 30,600 1.13
Durham 417,800 5.88 306,300 4.31
South Wales and Monmouth* 771,600 8.43 346,800 3.79
Yorkshire 446,200 4.56 251,700 2.57
North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire 233,900 4.05 130,000 2.25
South Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Cannock Chase and Warwickshire. 110,600 3.79 84,000 2.88
Lancashire, Cheshire and North Staffordshire 249,100 5.36 113,000 2.43
Other Districts (Cumberland, North Wales, South Staffordshire, Shropshire, Bristol, Forest of Dean, Somerset and Kent). 138,200 5.76 61,900 2.58
Great Britain 2,966,900 5.74 1,448,600 2.80
* The figures for South Wales and Monmouth relate to the six months ended the 31st January, 1928