HC Deb 30 November 1911 vol 32 cc582-3
Sir HILDRED CARLILE

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that 1,049,407 persons were employed in 1910, or an increase of 6.2 per cent. since the passing of the Eight Hours (Mines) Act to procure 1 per cent. more coal than was obtained by 987,813 persons in 1908 prior to the passing of that measure; and whether he is aware that the limitation of hours imposed by the Act has decreased the coal-getting capacity of each individual miner on the average by 4.8 per cent., resulting, as miners are paid by piece-work, in a similar reduction in the wages earned by the men; and, seeing that, as a consequence, the miners are agitating for a minimum wage, for which many of them are resolved to strike, whether he can see his way to take steps to bring about the repeal of that measure?

Mr. McKENNA

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I accept the figures given by the hon. Member in the first part of his question, as they are correctly taken from answers which I recently gave him in this House. The calculation referred to in the second part of the question is, I believe, approximately accurate. I am not prepared to accept the conclusion drawn by the hon. Member in the third part of the question, the answer to which is in the negative. For other conclusions on the same subject I would refer him to the second part of the Chief Inspector's Report, which has just been issued.

Mr. W. E. HARVEY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the Debate on the Eight Hours Bill for miners statements were made in this House that if the Bill became law the price of coal would be increased from 3s. to 5s. per ton, and further, if he was aware that since the Bill did become law in September, 1911, prices were 8d. per ton less than before the passing of the Eight Hours Bill into law?

Mr. McKENNA

I believe some statement of that kind was made, but the facts have proved that it was without adequate foundation.

Sir A. MARKHAM

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept the suggestion in the question as to the decrease in the coal-getting capacity of each individual?

Mr. McKENNA

I said that the calculation was approximately accurate, but that I did not agree with the conclusions drawn from it.