Mr. CHAPMAN:

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of the capital transferred from the Blantyre Colliery Accident Fund to the Scottish Mining Disasters Relief Fund on 15th May, 1930?

The capital and assets of the Blantyre Accident Fund amounted at 31st March, 1930, to £2,119 2s. 6d.

Mr. CHAPMAN:

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman give the number of dependants and survivors who are still receiving grants in Blantyre?

When the Blantyre fund was merged with the Scottish Mining Disasters Relief Fund, there were seven persons taken over. I cannot say how many of them are still there.

Mr. CHAPMAN:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give, to the nearest convenient date, the total capital existing in the Scottish Mining Disasters Fund, the annual income derived therefrom, the annual expenditure, the number of persons receiving relief from the fund, and the names of the board of governors?

The hon. Member will see in Cd. Paper 5167 that, on 15th May, 1935, the Scottish Mining Disasters Relief Fund had a balance in hand of £8,408 12s. 7d., and there were at that date five persons in receipt of relief. I am informed that the income of the fund during the year ended 15th May, 1935, was £370 13s. 10d., and the expenditure £380 4s. 7d., of which £256 6s. 4d. represents the amount paid in relief to beneficiaries. With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the governors of the fund.

Mr. CHAPMAN:

Has the fund power to make grants to dependants of possible future disasters, or is it limited to the dependants and survivors of past disasters?

I understand that, under the scheme, money has to be applied in the first instance to continuing payments to the beneficiaries of the Blantyre and Udston funds, and that any surplus may be applied to the relief of sufferers from any mining disaster in Scotland in future involving the death of not less than six persons.

Does the Minister not think it reasonable that the surplus from these funds should be amalgamated and used for the purpose of relieving any kind of distress that may arise from accidents in mining areas?

That, as the hon. Gentleman knows, is a very big question, and I would rather not answer it without notice at Question Time.

Following is the list:

The Governors of the Scottish Mining Disasters Relief Fund are:

1. (a) Ex officio Governors under Article 3 of Scheme.
   1. (1) The Rt. Hon. The Lord Provost (John Stewart, Esq., City Chambers, Glasgow), Chairman.
   2. (2) The Lord Dean of Guild of the City of Glasgow (Claud A. Allan, Esq., 127, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, C.2).
   3. (3) The Deacon Convener of the Trades of Glasgow (Robert Robertson, Esq., Carnbooth, Carmunnock).
   4. (4) The President of the Coalmasters' Association (Andrew K. McCosh, Gartsherrie Iron Works, Coat-bridge).
   5. (5) The President of the National Union of Scottish Mineworkers (Andrew B. Clarke, Esq., 5, Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh).
2. (b) Elected Governors under Article 3 of Scheme.
   1. (1) Glasgow Corporation.
      • Councillor P. J. Dollan, 1, Kingsley Avenue, Glasgow, S.2.
   2. (2) Merchants' House of Glasgow.
      • The Hon. Joseph Paton Maclay, 21, Bothwell Street, Glasgow.
   3. (3) Trades' House of Glasgow.
      • James F. G. Cameron, Esq., 75, St. George's Place, Glasgow, C.2.
   4. (4) Coalmasters' Association of Lanarkshire.
      • James T. Forgie, Esq., Bothwell Collieries, Bothwell.
   5. (5) National Union of Scottish Mineworkers.
      • William B. Small, Esq., Beech-field, 31, Fallside Road, Bothwell.
3. (c) Co-opted Governors (being the former Executive Committee of Blantyre and Udston Accident Funds).
   • A. Millar Bannatyne, Esq., LL.D., 145, West George Street, Glasgow.
   • James T. Forgie, Esq., Bothwell Collieries, Bothwell.
   • Robert Forrester, Esq., 78, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.
   • The Rev. Matthew Stewart, B.D., Mansewood, Hamilton.