§ 21. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines if he can indicate the present increase or otherwise of hours of labour for miners in each of the mining districts of Great Britain; and if he can state the total number of added 1001 labour hours which have been worked in the industry since the coal stoppage of 1926 as compared with the position had the Seven Hours Act not been abolished?
§ Commodore KINGThe agreements made in the various districts after the end of the dispute of 1926 provide for an increase in underground hours of generally one hour per day, except in Yorkshire, Nottingham, North Derby and Kent, where it was half an hour. The number of man-shifts worked below ground from 1st January, 1927, to 30th September, 1928, is approximately 322,000,000, but I am unable to give any estimate of the aggregate number of hours which would have been worked during that period under a seven-hour day. I am, however, satisfied that the higher cost of production would have meant less sales, less output and consequently less employment.
§ Mr. DAYCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say how many more men, or how many of the present unemployed, would have been in work had it not been for the introduction of this Act?
§ Commodore KINGThat is exactly the question which I have answered.