§ Sir HENRY NORMANasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause to be collected and circulated immediately in one Paper the latest statistics in the possession of the Board of Trade showing the average earnings per man per day in the different coal-mining areas, compared with these earnings in previous years or periods; the cost of living in these areas, with any available data regarding its rise or fall; the average output of coal per man; the proportion of men working in abnormal places and their earnings; the price of coal at the pit mouth over the same years or periods as those covered by the statistics of earnings; the net profits earned by the companies in the different districts; the amounts paid by the companies in royalties; and the amounts paid by the royalty owners in tax upon royalties?
Mr. BUXTONThe latest figures published with regard to the average output per man and the price of coal at the pit's mouth in the different coal-mining areas are those contained in Mining Statistics, Part III. (Cd. 5977), issued by the Home Department. With regard to changes in the cost of living, reference may be made to the table showing the percentage variations in the retail prices of articles of food contained in the 14th Abstract of Labour Statistics (Cd. 5458). This volume also contains a table giving the summary of the average selling price of coal at the pit's mouth. I regret that the other particulars asked for by my hon. Friend are not immediately available.