Mr. Jenkinsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the indebtedness of colliery undertakings in each district of Great Britain to the banks or other financial houses, the amount of interest paid on such loans for each quarter since 1935, and the average rate of such interest; and whether such charges rank as costs of production or as profits for the purposes of the quarterly ascertainments?
§ Captain CrookshankI regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. As regards the second part, interest on loans is not included as an item of cost in arriving at the wages payable under the ascertainments.