HC Deb 27 February 1924 vol 170 cc507-8W
Mr. WHITELEY

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal royalties in the county of Durham; the number of

Royalties of coal in the County of Durham, assessable to Mineral Rights Duty for the financial year, 1923–24.
Estimated Number of Royalty Owners. Estimated Aggregate Royalty, before deduction of Income Tax.
£
Owners in receipt of less than £10,000 264 333,100
Owners in receipt of £10,000 or more 13 605,600
Total 277 938,700
The term "royalty" includes the gross rental value of coal assessed to Mineral Rights Duty on working proprietors.

Mr. WHITELEY

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal royalties in Great Britain, the number of royalty owners receiving £10,000 and over per year, and the number receiving below £10,000 before deduction of Income Tax, and the total amount paid to such owners during the year 1923?

Mr. GRAHAM

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I regret that I am unable to furnish this information without a detailed examination of some 12,000 returns, which would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. The hon. Member will however find an analysis of the nature desired, for the year 1917–18, in Appendix 78 of Vol. III of the Report of the Coal Industry Commission, Cmd. 361 of 1910. My advisers have no reason to think that the relative distribution there shown has materiallly altered since. The total number of royalty owners estimated to be assessable to Mineral Rights Duty in Great Britain, in respect of coal and other minerals, for the year 1923–24, is 6,100, and the aggregate royalties, before deduction of Income Tax, are estimated to amount to £7,084,000. The term "royalty" includes the gross rental value of minerals assessed to Mineral Rights Duty on working proprietors.

royalty owners receiving £10,000 and over per year, and the number receiving below £10,000, before deduction of Income Tax; and the total amount paid to such owners during the year 1923?

Mr. GRAHAM

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The information is as follows: