§ Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Secretary for Mines whether, seeing that the assessment of coal mines upon output is not in accordance with the rating principle that all rateable property is assessable to local rates upon an estimate of an annual rent which a tenant might be expected to pay, he will take steps to regularise colliery assessments; if he is aware that during the lock-out in the coal industry in 1921 no rates were Daid for the said period by colliery concerns, whereas all other business and cottage properties were, charged in full to the local rates, despite the loss of trade and of wages suffered; and what was the total loss in rate revenue to the local authorities in each British coal-field during the 1921 lock-out in the coal industry?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERAs was stated in a reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on Monday, the output may reasonably be expected from a mine is clearly an important factor in estimating the rent which a tenant would be likely to give. My right hon. Friend will, however, consider the question of the assessment of coal mines in connection with the proposed reform of the law of rating. It is regretted that there are no statistics available which would enable a reply to be given to the last part of the question.