HC Deb 12 March 1923 vol 161 cc1054-5W
Mr. BARKER

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mines working in the United Kingdom; the number of mine inspectors whose duty it is to inspect these mines; if all the mines were inspected during the year 1922; and what was the average number of times the mines were inspected during that year?

Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOX:

There were approximately 3,300 mines at work during 1922, and all of them were inspected during that year excepting two or three small and isolated mines and a few mines which were idle when the inspector called to inspect them. Eighty-six inspectors of mines were employed, and the average number of underground inspections per mine was approximately 4.6.

— Profits (except where otherwise specified).
Aggregate. Rate per tone raised
£ s. d.
Year ended 31st March, 1913 … … … 16,900,000 1 3
Year ended 31st March, 1914 … … … 21,100,000 1 6
Year ended 31st March, 1915 … … … 13,900,000 1 1
Year ended 31st March, 1916 … … … 26,200,000 2 1
Year ended 31st March, 1917 … … … 39,800,000 3 1
Year ended 31st March, 1918 … … … 26,300,000 2 2
Year ended 31st March, 1919 … … … 22,300,000 2 0
Year ended 31st March, 1920 … … … 41,800,000 3 7
Year ended 31st March, 1921 … … … 3,100,000 3 7
Year ended 31st March, 1922 … … … Loss 1,700,000 Loss 2½
6 months ended 30th September, 1922 … … 2,900,000 6

I have not sufficient information to enable me to make an estimate of the fresh capital invested yearly for development work or of the capital invested in mines at the present time, but at the end of control the total capital employed was estimated at approximately £180,000,000, exclusive of whatever new money was invested in the industry during the year 1920–21.

The above statement is subject to the following reservations:

  1. (1) All the figures are necessarily estimates.
  2. (2) The statistics do not include the profits and capital of coking, byproduct and other ancillary operations.
  3. (3) The Income Tax allowance for wear and tear of plant and machinery has been deducted in arriving at the profits, but nothing has been charged in respect of amortisation of shafts and equipment