§ 33. Mr. SHINWELLasked the Secretary for Mines the increase in mining royalties in the North Staffordshire area in 1927 and 1928, respectively; and whether he can explain the cause of the increase?
§ Commodore KINGI have no separate figures for North Staffordshire before 1927. In 1928 the average cost of royalties showed an increase of 0. 16d. per ton disposable commercially, as compared with the previous year. I have no special information as to the reason for the increase, but output was lower in 1928 and it is possible that minimum or certain rents may have affected the figures.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDo we understand that as the output diminishes the amount of royalty charged increases?
§ Commodore KINGI will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a tabular statement giving such information as is available.
§ Mr. GEOFFREY PETOWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman also state the number of accidents per hour worked underground?
§ Commodore KINGI could not give them in this statement, as it is already prepared.
§ Following is the information:
§ Commodore KINGNo. If there is less coal raised, it is obvious that, if there is a fixed rent in addition to the rate per ton, it would be slightly increased.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDoes not the answer the hon. and gallant Gentleman gave me relate to the average amount of royalty charged per ton of coal raised?
§ Commodore KINGIf the hon. Member will read my reply, he will see that I say that the output was smaller in 1928, and it is possible that minimum or certain rents may have affected the figures.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDid the hon. and gallant Gentleman not give me a reply to a question last week on the amount of increase or decrease in royalties charged in this country, and did not that relate to the average amount per ton raised?
§ Commodore KINGCertainly. The hon. Member asked me a question, and I told him that in some districts, in most districts, the actual royalty rent had gone down.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs it not a fact that where the royalty rent is fixed, just as the production of the mine falls, the royalty per ton increases?
§ 34. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Secretary for Mines whether in view of the facts that the estimated trading loss on British coal last year was Is. per ton, that miners' wages are far too low, while some 250,000 moners are unemployed, that the lowering of royalties by a penny per ton has enabled pits to reopen, His Majesty's Government proposes to inquire into the question of royalties which at present are 6d. per ton?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir; the question of royalties was inquired into by the Royal Commission of 1925, and by other Commissions before them, and I do not think that any further inquiry could be expected to disclose anything which is not already known.
§ Mr. WELLOCKOught not something to be done, seeing that the wages have come down? Surely the royalty owners should not be left untouched.
§ Mr. PETOIs it not a fact that the average gain by de-rating under the Local Government Bill will exceed—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]