§ 41. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary for Mines in which districts colleries are at present working short time; whether he is in a position to state the number 1953 of men paid off and working short time, respectively, in each district affected; and what number of men were on full-time work in these districts during May and the first two weeks of June, 1923, as compared with the same period this year?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe answer to this question can only be given in statistical tables, which I will have circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
| (1) AVERAGE number of wage earners fully employed.* | ||
| District. | In each of six weeks ended | |
| 16th June, 1923. | 14th June, 1924. | |
| Scotland | 130,723 | 84,722 |
| Northumberland | 61,370 | 45,843 |
| Durham | 164,159 | 132,640 |
| South Wales and Monmouth | 238,068 | 212,576 |
| Yorkshire, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Cannock Chase and Warwick. | 339,251 | 248,741 |
| Lancashire, North Staffs and Cheshire | 98,594 | 69,038 |
| North Wales | 17,409 | 13,232 |
| South Staffs and Salop | 9,280 | 8,319 |
| Cumberland | 11,776 | 10,389 |
| Bristol | 2,083 | 1,755 |
| Forest of Dean | 6,809 | 3,463 |
| Somerset | 5,344 | 5,041 |
| Kent | 1,851 | 1,774 |
| Great Britain | 1,086,717 | 837,533 |
| * These figures represent the average number of wage-earners employed at mines which did not lose any time owing to want of trade and transport difficulties. Some of these persons may have lost time owing to disputes, accidents, holidays, etc. |
§ Mr. BATEYWill the hon. Gentleman also inquire what is the real cause for so many miners being dismissed at the present time in Durham?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThat is rather a different question. If my hon. Friend will give me notice, I will endeavour to give him an answer.
§ The following is the information asked for in the Question, as far as it is available:
1955| (3) NUMBER of wage-earners on Colliery Books in the week ended 21st June, 1924, as compared with the number on the 17th May, 1924.* | |||
| District. | Number on 17th May. | Number on 21st June. | Difference. |
| Scotland | 142,124 | 139,785 | -2,339 |
| Northumberland | 64,623 | 64,306 | -317 |
| Durham | 176,661 | 175,592 | -1,069 |
| South Wales and Monmouth | 243,060 | 240,738 | -2,322 |
| Yorkshire, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Cannock Chase and Warwick. | 366,649 | 367,121 | +472 |
| Lancashire, North Staffs and Cheshire | 142,310 | 141,608 | -702 |
| North Wales | 8,633 | 18,577 | -56 |
| South Staffs and Salop | 10,315 | 10,206 | -109 |
| Cumberland | 12,187 | 11,629 | -558 |
| Bristol | 2,066 | 1,987 | -79 |
| Forest of Dean | 7,431 | 7,424 | -7 |
| Somerset | 5,707 | 5,633 | -74 |
| Kent | 1,902 | 1,892 | -10 |
| Great Britain | 1,193,668 | 1,186,498 | -7,170 |
| * The total for this week is the highest in the past year. |