Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary for Mines what is the amount which has been lost in wages since the commencement of the coal strike; and whether he can give an estimate of the amount which would have accrued to the mineowners during the same period as net profits if the mines had continued working?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, Sir; this can he a matter of conjecture. All that I can say is, that in the last two months for which figures are available (those of February and March), £25,400,000 was paid in wages to the men, and a net loss of £3,100,000 (apart from subsidy) was incurred by the owners.