§ 25 Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary for Mines what is the nearest convenient date on which he can give the figures of the number of wage-earners at work in the coal mines, exclusive of safety men; and what was the number?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Colonel Lane Fox)The latest date for which figures are available is the 24th July. On that date there were 93,370 wageearners employed, of whom 66,300 were employed at mines not producing any coal, or producing coal for colliery consumption only.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman give me the figures of the men other than the safety men engaged in raising coal actually?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI think the hon. and gallant Member will have to give me notice of that question.
§ Mr. T. KENNEDYHas the number of safety men employed been reduced during the progress of the coal dispute, and, if any reduction has taken place, on what ground?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI am not aware of any considerable reduction, or any reduction, but again I must ask for notice.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask the question I put to the right hon. Gentleman I wanted to get the number of men at work in the coal mines, exclusive of safety men.
§ Colonel LANE FOXThe answer I have given is that 66,300 wage-earners were employed on the 24th July at mines not producing any coal, or producing coal for colliery consumption only.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that the mine is not producing coal, or that the men employed are not producing coal?
§ Colonel LANE FOXSurely it is the same thing. If the men are not producing coal, the4 mine is not producing coal.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAs the right hon. Gentleman has given the answer, it might read that there are so many men employed in mines not winning coal. I want to know the number of men actually engaged in getting coal. There is an ambiguity in the answer.
§ Colonel LANE FOXIt is a matter of simple arithmetic. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will see me afterwards, I will explain.