HC Deb 28 October 1918 vol 110 cc1083-4
3. Sir EDGAR JONES

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the estimated total tonnage of coal lost through short time in collieries west of Cardiff during the past six months; what organisation he has set up to deal with the situation; (2) whether he is aware that the anthracite collieries in West Wales are still only working some three days per week, and that recently some steam coal collieries, producing manufacturing coal urgently needed by various industries, have been kept working only four or five days per week owing to the arrangements of the Coal Controller; will he state what steps he has taken to prevent their continuance; (3) whether he can state the extent of the curtailment of supplies of coal to various industries; whether he will allow industries to make their own arrangements for obtaining additional supplies of coal from West Wales, where the miners are kept idle for lack of orders; and whether he will instruct the railways to give every facility for the transport of these private orders for additional supplies of coal for manufacturing purposes?

Sir A. STANLEY

The estimated total tonnage of coal lost through short time in collieries west of Cardiff during the past six months is 200,000 tons on an output of about 3,500,000 tons during that period. Most of this loss has occurred during the past few weeks.

It is hardly correct to say that the anthracite collieries are working only some three days per week. As a matter of fact, the greatest loss of time so far recorded was in the week ended the 12th October, when the anthracite collieries lost on an average somewhat less than one winding shift each. The loss of time is due to shortage of shipping, which necessarily affects more particularly the western part of the coalfield, in view of the demands of the Admiralty and the Allies for the better classes of coal produced in the eastern part of the coalfield as far as these are obtainable.

The acute situation which has recently arisen is being dealt with by diversion to South Wales of tonnage which would otherwise go to other districts, and by an increase as far as possible in the transport of coal inland, as to which the Controller of Coal Mines is in communication with the railway companies with a view to the provision of the best possible facilities.

Sir E. JONES

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that several manufacturing collieries have had to stop this month simply for lack of orders, and cannot the Coal Controller see that orders are so distributed that collieries are kept going, in view of the closing of industries in the Midlands?

Sir A. STANLEY

I shall be glad to bring that to the Coal Controller's attention. Personally, I am not aware of it.

Sir E. JONES

Should not the Coal Controller be so actively in touch here that this situation should not be allowed to continue for a day, in view of the shortage of coal and the fact that industries are suffering?

Sir A. STANLEY

I cannot accept all that my hon. Friend has said. I can only refer him to the Coal Controller.