§ 17. Mr. Gordon Macdonaldasked the Secretary for Mines whether, in order to dispel the suspicion prevalent in the mining districts, he will request the colliery companies to make public when selling output quotas which result in the closing of collieries, not only the quantity of coal involved in the transaction, but also the price at which the coal is sold?
§ Mr. LloydSection 8 of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, precludes me from publishing such information even if obtained, except with the consent of the parties affected. I am unable, therefore, to give a general undertaking in regard to this matter, but in particular cases in which hon. Members are interested, I will be ready to consider whether I could ask the owners if they would be willing to publish the information.
§ Mr. MacdonaldIs the Minister aware that in many colliery districts where men are displaced there is some suspicion that those who have invested their money in the industry are not losing by the closing of the colliery, whereas hundreds of displaced men are suffering great anxiety?