§ 65. Mr. WESTWOODasked the Secretary for Mines the standard wages payable to the various grades of workmen employed both above and below ground in the various mining districts in Great Britain?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Colonel Lane-Fox)To answer this question would mean giving a list of many hundreds of figures which are not in my possession, which would be most laborious to collect, and which would not by themselves convey any useful information, since, as the hon. Member knows, standard wages are not the same as the wages actually paid, and the relation between the two varies. If there is any simpler way in which I can meet the object of his question, I shall be happy to do what I can.
§ Mr. WESTWOODWould it be possible, if I put a question to the Secretary for Mines, to give a reply stating the lowest wages paid to adults of the different districts and the wages paid to those who are working on the face?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXIf a question be put down, I will try to answer it as well as I can.