§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 1337W if he has any information as to the ownership of the Whitworth Collieries in Glamorganshire, or the collieries which were previously known by this name; and is it within the knowledge of the Government that some few years back these collieries were purchased by a syndicate controlled by Germans?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed that a German syndicate purchased the Whitworth estate about eight years ago, floated a company, and prepared to open a large colliery. In March, 1911, the estate was taken possession of by a receiver for the debenture holders and subsequently, in December of that year, all operations ceased and have not been resumed. The estate is now, I understand, in the hands of a mortgagee, who is a British subject.