§ Mr. McGOVERNasked the Secretary for Mines the present position regarding the proposed merging of the firms of Wilson and Clyde Coal Company, Limited, and Brand and Company, Woodside Colliery; if previous merging took place with these firms; and if any further merging is proposed in Scotland, and is this taking place under the Mines Reorganisation Committee?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI have no information on this subject beyond what has appeared in the Press, which is to the effect that negotiations for the acquisition of Messrs. Brand and Company's Woodside Colliery by Messrs. Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company are nearing completion. With regard to the second part of the question, I understand, also from Press reports, that Messrs. Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company have recently acquired the Darngavil Coal Company, Limited, and Messrs. Robert Addie and Sons Collieries, Limited. The mergers referred to have been carried out privately and not under the provisions of the Mining Industry Act, 1926. With regard to the last part of the question, I am informed that the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission are preparing, for submission to the Railway and Canal Commission, a scheme of amalgamation of collieries in Fifeshire.