§ 8. Sir R. THOMASasked the Secretary for Mines if he will give a list of the pits in the South Wales coalfield at which work has totally ceased, naming their location and the collieries to which they belong; and how many and which of the pits are considered to be permanently uneconomic?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Commodore Douglas King)I will send to the hon. Member a list of the pits closed in South Wales, but I regret I am unable to give the information asked for in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman now in a position to 6 give the figures for Scotland, which he was unable to give before the Adjournment?
§ Commodore KINGNot without notice.
§ Mr. PALINGAre we to understand that there are no means of ascertaining which pits have gone out of production because they are not economic?
§ Commodore KINGThose that are abandoned are reported each week to the Mines Department.
§ Mr. KELLYWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman make inquiries as to which of the pits are permanently uneconomic?
§ Commodore KINGThere are nearly 200 pits, and the work of finding out which are permanently closed would be too great.
§ Sir R. THOMASDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman not realise that it is very important to ascertain this?
§ Commodore KINGIt depends on the state of the market whether pits will be economic or not.
§ Mr. PALINGIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister, in passing the Eight Hours Act, suggested that it was put in operation to prevent the going out of production of pits, and, in view of that fact, is it not necessary that we should have this knowledge?
§ Commodore KINGI cannot agree that he said that.
§ Mr. PALINGThe hon. and gallant Gentleman himself gave that answer to a question a few days ago.
§ Mr. KELLYAre the hon. and gallant Gentleman's officers still investigating and preparing a catalogue of these mines?
§ Commodore KINGYes, my Department is constantly keeping in touch and making out a catalogue of abandoned mines, but abandoned mines only.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not a fact that more mines have gone out of action since the Eight Hours Act than in the same length of period before the passing of that Act?