§ 24. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary for Mines whether, seeing that the quarterly statistics published by his Department are based in whole or in part on figures supplied by the accountants jointly appointed by the coalowners and coal miners and that the Durham Mining Association have partial responsibility for making these appointments, he will have inquiry made into the allegations of Mr. Collins, of the Durham Miners Association, made at the miners' conference at Edinburgh on 19th July, that the ascertainments were fabrications; and whether the Miners Association have suggested any alternative methods of compiling these statistics?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)I have seen references in the Press to several speeches dealing with this question, which appear to have attacked the basis on which the calculations are made rather than the accuracy of the calculations. I understand that a resolution was passed instructing the Executive to examine the whole question of the ascertainments, and in particular to make an inquiry into the capital employed in the industry and into the effect of the modern development of subsidiary sales companies.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it the case that the gentleman in question described the ascertainment as a fabrication, and is not that going rather further than criticising the basis of the ascertainment?
§ Mr. BROWNMy hon. Friend will understand that the atmosphere of public meetings is not always the same as the atmosphere of this Rouse.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs it now the practice for only members of the Federation of British Industries to criticise the machinery of their organisation?
§ Mr. GODFREY NICHOLSONIs the hon., Gentleman satisfied with the basis of the ascertainment?
§ Mr. DAVID GRENFELLAre there not a good many coalowners who admit that the basis is unsatisfactory?