§ 60. Mr. BATEYasked the Secretary for Mines the daily wage paid for day wage workers in the Ruhr coal mines in Germany, and the subsistence daily wage paid for day wage workers in the coal mines of Durham County?
§ Commodore KINGThe present average earnings of the lowest paid group of adult day wage men below ground in the Ruhr coal mines are approximately 6s. 9d. per day, including the family allowance and payment for such overtime as may be worked, but excluding the value of allowances in kind. The subsistence wage in Durham is 6s. 6A. per day, exclusive of the value of allowances in kind which are roughly 1s. per shift higher in Durham than in the Ruhr.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied that the wage given of 6s. 9d. is the correct wage Was not the wage for the same class of labour prior to the 8 per cent, increase, 7s. 10d. per shift?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir. I am perfectly confident that the figures I am giving the hon. Member are correct; otherwise, I would not give them,
Major-General Sir ROBERT HUTCHISONCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say what is the difference in the cost of living in the Ruhr and Durham?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir, I cannot give that information, without notice.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDo not these figures reveal that the wages in the Ruhr for this category are higher than in the case of the Durham miners.
§ Commodore KINGNo, if the hon. Gentleman will read my reply, he will see that the reverse is the case.
§ Mr. WHITELEYCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman give us some idea of the family allowances made to the miners in the Ruhr?
§ Commodore KINGNot without notice. I may inform the House that the only information I have is as to the average earnings. I have not the details as to how these average earnings are worked out.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Durham miner is working one hour a day more than the Ruhr miner?
§ Mr. WELLOCKCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say what is included under "allowances"?
§ Commodore KINGIf the hon. Member will put down a question, I will give him all the details that I have.
§ Commodore KINGI said that in reply to a question yesterday or the day before.