The following question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. POTTS:17. "To ask the Secretary for Mines, whether in the coal-mining industry sales agency commission deducted from the actual coal proceeds received inland and abroad was an amount sufficient to cover costs of sales agencies and what were the assumed ascertained colliery losses in the mining industry of Great Britain for the year ending December, 1928.
§ Mr. POTTSBefore the hon. and gallant Gentleman answers this question, may I point out that the two words "what were" have been inserted by error and alter the meaning of the question?
§ Commodore KINGI shall endeavour to answer the question as I understand it. I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. It is estimated that the total trading loss in the coal-mining industry in 1928 was between £10,000,000 and £11,000,000.
§ Mr. POTTSWhat I want to know is what was the cost of the agencies and the losses—which last, the hon. and gallant Gentleman has now given. Those two words "what were" divide the question into two parts which was not my intention. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will look into the matter and give the House some information as to the cost of the agencies.