§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Secretary for Mines the amount paid as royalty rents for the year 1929 on the latest completed 12 months; how the sum compares with the amount paid in wages to hewers, fillers and machine coal-cutter employés; and how many such workmen are employed?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe amount payable as coal-mining royalties and wayleaves, including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietors, in the year ended 30th June, 1930, was approximately £5,800,000. With regard to the rest of the question, I regret that information is not available in my Department of the proportion of the total wage-bill which is paid to the particular classes of workmen mentioned, nor the number of such workmen.