§ Mr. KEATINGasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the arrangement made by the Coal Controller whereby colliery owners are allowed 2s. 6d. per ton extra to meet the cost. of the special war wages of 1s. 6d. per day also benefits the royalty owners, in some cases as much as 21d. per ton extra; whether it was the intention of the Government that royalty owners, who run no risk, should receive this gratuity; whether some royalty owners can retain 20 per cent. above the standard pre-war profits, whereas colliery proprietors are only allowed to retain 5 per cent.; and, if on inquiry, he finds that royalty owners automatically benefit to this extent by the recent war-wage award through an oversight, will he take steps to divert these increased royalties into the Treasury rather than into the pockets of royalty owners?
§ Mr. WARDLEThere are cases in which the royalty is dependent on the selling price of coal, but the Board of Trade have no power to interfere with the terms of the leases or agreements under which such royalties are payable. The last part of the hon. Member's question should be addressed to the Treasury.