§ 22. Sir W. DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average wage now payable to various classes of men employed in the coal-mining industry when working full time; how such wages compare with the wages paid in other industries; whether miners receive any free allowance of coal in addition to their wages; if, not, what is the 13 average price paid by them for their coal; and whether they are rationed in the amount of coal which they can obtain?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am having a statement prepared as to the average wage payable to the various classes of colliery workers and I will send it to the hon. Member as soon as possible. I regret that I have no information available which would provide an effective comparison with the wages paid in other industries. It is not possible to give definite details of the price at which persons employed in or about the coal mines in the United Kingdom are supplied with coal, as the price varies considerably in different districts. The average price of such coal for the whole country, however, is approximately 4s. per ton. In some districts—such, for instance, as Northumberland and Durham—the workmen receive free coal, paying only an agreed sum for the cost of cartage. Colliery employés are especially exempted from rationing in respect of coal for their own use, under Clause 11 of the Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919.
§ Mr. HOUSTONCannot the statement be circulated for the benefit of all Members?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI will see what can be done.