13. Mr. W. M. WATSONasked the Secretary for Mines the total amount paid as local rates and the amount paid to royalty owners in each mining county in Scotland by coal companies; and the rates, or amount per ton, on output during the latest available six months?
§ Commodore KINGInformation is only available for Scotland as a whole. The estimated amount of local rates payable in respect of the six months ended March, 1928, was £108,000, or 1.46d. per ton of saleable output, and of royalties, £453,000, or 6.13d. per ton.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESWhy is it impossible for the hon. and gallant Member's Department to give the specific amounts for each local authority's area in all the Scottish coalfields, instead of merely a lump sum for the entire country?
§ Commodore KINGBecause we have not the information, which is not supplied to us.
§ Mr. JONESIs it not a simple thing for each local authority in every coalfield in Scotland to give the specific information for its own area?