§ 37. Sir R. THOMASasked the Secretary for Mines if he will give a list of the pits in the South Wales coalfield and in the North Wales coalfield, at which work was proceeding up to 1st April, 1928, but has since totally ceased, naming their location and the collieries to which they belong?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Commodore Douglas King)Since 1st April, 1928, 58 pits, normally employing 16,300 wage-earners, have closed in South Wales, and four pits, normally employing 547 wage-earners, in North Wales. Of these 62 pits, 17 are very small, employing less than 10 persons each. I will send the hon. Member a list of those pits which employed 10 or more persons. During the same period 42 pits, at present employing 3,900 wage-earners, have been opened, or re-opened, in South Wales.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESDo these figures include the case of Nixon's Navigation Company, of Mountain Ash, who closed down their pits last week and have not yet paid their workmen's wages for the previous week's work?
§ Commodore KINGThe last part of the hon. Member's supplementary question does not, I think, arise, but the list which I am sending to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas) does include Nixon's Navigation Company.
§ Mr. JONESWould the hon. and gallant Gentleman be good enough to make an investigation into the last point that I made, as it is causing great distress in that district?
§ Commodore KINGIf the hon. Member will see me afterwards on the matter, I will look into it.
§ 39. Mr. PARKINSONasked the Secretary for Mines what is the total number of underground workers at present employed in Lancashire, the number of mines which have been closed since 1st January, 1928, and the number of work-people thrown out of work as a result in the above county?
§ Commodore KINGThe estimated total number of underground wage-earners at the present time employed at coal mines in Lancashire is 61,100. Since 1st January, 1928, 28 pits have closed and not reopened. These 28 pits normally employed 4,300 wage-earners, of whom it is estimated 3,170 were employed underground.