7. Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons who are in receipt of royalties from coal in Durham county, and the amount paid during the last 10 years?
§ Captain WallaceMy hon. and gallant Friend regrets that information as to the number of persons in receipt of royalties from coal in Durham is not available. As the reply to the second part of the question involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. T. SmithHow does it come about that we are told that this information is not available, seeing that a year or two ago we could get the details from each county?
§ Captain WallaceIn the question on the Order Paper the hon. Member asks for the number of persons in receipt of royalties. We know the amount they get, but not the number of persons.
§ Mr. ShinwellIf the numbers are not available, how are the Government to determine what compensation is to be paid and the persons to whom it is to be paid?
§ Captain WallacePerhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to put that question to my hon. and gallant Friend the Minister for Mines.
§ Mr. LawsonCan the right hon. and gallant Member give the amount paid?
§ Captain WallaceI am circulating the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Mr. J. J. DavidsonWill the right hon. and gallant Member make an effort to obtain particulars as to the numbers?
§ Captain WallaceI will convey the observations of hon. Members to the Secretary for Mines.
§ Following is the information:
§ The estimated amounts paid by colliery owners in Durham in royalties and way-leaves (including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietor) during the years 1927 to 1936 are as follow:
| Year | Amount | ||
| £ | |||
| 1927 | … | … | 864,000 |
| 1928 | … | … | 825,000 |
| 1929 | … | … | 929,000 |
| 1930 | … | … | 838,000 |
| 1931 | … | … | 711,000 |
| 1932 | … | … | 658,000 |
| 1933 | … | … | 638,000 |
| 1934 | … | … | 707,000 |
| 1935 | … | … | 691,000 |
| 1936 | … | … | 719,000 |
| Total | … | … | 7,580,000 |
§ 8. Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary for Mines the amount of money paid in coal royalties in Great Britain during the years 1930, 1933 and 1936, giving separate figures for Lancashire; and the value of mineral royalties owned and worked by colliery companies in Great Britain, giving separate figures for Lancashire?
§ Captain WallaceAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The information is as follows:
§ The estimated amount paid by colliery owners in Great Britain in royalties and wayleaves (including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietor) was £5,551,000 in 1930, £4,821,000 in 1933 and £5,027,000 in 1936. Comparable figures are not available for Lancashire, but the estimated amounts for Lancashire and Cheshire were £349,000, £319,000 and £321,000 respectively. It is estimated that about one-eighth of the coal royalties in Great Britain are owned and worked by colliery companies, but I regret that I am unable to give any similar estimate for Lancashire and Cheshire.