§ 41. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary for Mines the total deficiencies for all the mining areas in Great Britain to the last date for which figures are available?
§ Commodore KINGThe information asked for has been supplied to me by the Mining Association of Great Britain and the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. As the answer involves a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SHINWELLCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman state the total deficiency?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir, the figures are all set out in the answer which I am giving for 16 different districts.
§ Mr. LUNNI think that it is agreed that the conditions are shocking, and in view of that admission by nearly everybody in the country, I would like to ask if the Government have ever considered what the conditions would have been if it had not been for these deficiencies?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that under the estimated gains under the de-rating scheme it will take Yorkshire alone over 13 years to wipe out their deficiency, and as the Yorkshire miners will not be able to get an efficient wage until it is disposed of, can he tell the House what the Government are contemplating?
§ Following is the Answer.
§ Total deficiencies in the principal districts up to the latest date for which the information is available:—
| District. | Month to the end of which the figures relate. | Amount of total deficiency. | |
| 1928. | £ | ||
| Scotland | September | … | 4,586,448 |
| Northumberland | September | … | 1,797,355 |
| Durham | September | … | 5,102.729 |
| South Wales and Monmouth. | July | … | 8,312,829 |
| Yorkshire | September | … | 6,724,699 |
| North Derby | September | … | 653,885 |
| Nottingham | September | … | 622,738 |
| Leicester | September | … | 208,905 |
| Cannock Chase | September | … | 831,606 |
| Warwick | September | … | 221.653 |
| Lancashire and Cheshire. | August | … | 1,837,975 |
| North Staffordshire. | September | … | 1,333,403 |
| Cumberland | August | … | 555,216 |
| North Wales | September | … | 574,841 |
| South Staffs and East Worcester. | September | … | 69,320 |
| Forest of Dean | August | … | 230,538 |