§ 59. Mr. AMMONasked the Secretary for Mines the average weekly earnings in the mining industry for the last available period, together with the profits made by the industry during the War?
§ Major Sir HARRY BARNSTON (Comptroller of the Household)I have been asked to reply. The average weekly wage of all classes of workpeople (including boys) employed at coal mines during the March quarter, 1926, was 53s. 4d. As regards the second part of the question, it is impossible, for the reasons given in Appendix 38 in the Third Volume of the Royal Commission's Report, to separate the War period for this purpose from the period of control, which lasted beyond it. But during the eight years 1914–1921 the average annual profit is estimated to have been £22.7 millions, and the average amount annually paid in wages, £154.3 millions.
§ Mr. PALINGIs the average wage calculated on the basis of a six-day week, or is it the actual wage received, in view of short time and so on?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONI will make inquiries about that.