§ 26. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade how many new companies have been formed as selling agencies to distribute coal since the passing of the Coal Mines Act, 1930; and how many of the said companies are subsidiary where all the capital belongs to colliery companies?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill the hon. Gentleman tell us how we can ascertain how many selling agencies have been established in the past few years? Is he aware that selling agencies are being established all over the country with a definite view of avoiding the terms of the 1930 Act?
§ Dr. BURGINThe question asked was about new companies. Since the time mentioned in the question something under 30,000 companies have been registered. It is obviously impracticable to go through those and endeavour to correlate them to colliery companies. The practice to which the hon. Member refers is not unknown.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill the hon. Gentleman take steps to ascertain exactly how many of these selling agencies have been 2389 already established so that the Secretary for Mines will know whether, and if so when, he can take action to see that Part I of the Coal Mines Act is carried out?
§ Dr. BURGINAny proper collaboration with the Secretary for Mines will certainly be undertaken.