§ Mr. I. Thomasasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total number of entries now on the coal register; whether all claims have been dealt with; in how many cases costs have been paid and the total of such payments for costs; and what progress has been made in the distribution of compensation to the former holders of coal royalties.
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe total number of entries in the Coal Holdings Register is about 27,000, but only 26,026 qualified for compensation by the lodgment of a notice of claim. Draft valuations of all the 26,026 holdings have been made by the Valuation Boards and settled valuations issued in all except about 1,600 cases. Registration costs amounting to £137,946 have been paid in settlement of 16,933 cases, apart from a number which do not qualify for costs. £8,049,014 has been paid out in discharge of the compensation (with interest from the Vesting Date) in the Southern, Western and North Staffordshire Regions and 32,762,939 paid on account in the remaining seven regions.