§ Colonel Burtonasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is prepared to recommend financial or other assistance to the tin-mining industry in Great Britain; and what is the number of mines closed down owing to the inability to extract ore on an economic basis?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanI have been asked to reply. My Noble Friend has asked the newly appointed Controller of Non-Ferrous Mineral Development to investigate and report on the mining in Cornwall as a matter of urgency and the question of the assistance to be given will be considered in the light of that report. I am informed that three tin mines with a small output have been closed since the outbreak of war, but I cannot say that this was entirely due to economic difficulties.