§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERasked the Secretary for Mines if he will furnish a return of the number of colliery companies, together with their capital and output, which have failed since 1926 in the South Wales coalfields?
§ Mr. SHINWELLAs far as I am aware, the number of colliery undertakings in South Wales and Monmouthshire which have gone into liquidation since 1926 is 54, controlling 97 pits. I have not sufficient information to enable me to give the capital involved. Twenty-three of the pits, with a previous annual output of 580,000 tons, have been abandoned; 18, with a previous annual output of 868,000 tons, are closed but not abandoned; and 56, with an annual output of 5,300,000, are still working.