§ Colonel BALDWIN-WEBBasked the Secretary for Mines the total cost of the Coal Mines Re-organisation Commission to the latest date for which the information is available, and how much of this expenditure arises from the cost of preparing the recent schemes proposed by the Commission; and whether any part of the latter expenditure will fall upon the State in respect of those schemes which do not come into operation?
§ Mr. E. BROWNAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer that I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for North Lanark (Mr. Anstruther-Gray) on Tuesday last. As regards the second part, nothing has yet actually been paid in respect of inquiries which have been initiated since March last, although some expense has been incurred. I am not able to say how much. As regards the last part of the question, Section 12 (3) of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, only provides for the repayment of the cost of employing technical agents in those cases where amalgamations are effected.