HC Deb 06 October 1931 vol 257 cc965-7
3. Sir WILLIAM JENKINS

asked the Secretary for Mines the average output per person employed in mines in Glamorgan from 1920, each year, to 1931, also the average wages paid per person for the same period?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Foot)

As the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate such information as I have in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that particulars of wages paid in Glamorgan are not available, but I will give figures for South Wales and Monmouth as a whole.

Mr. GEORGE HARDIE

Can the hon. Gentleman give the answer to the question on the Paper—whether the average is up or down?

Mr. FOOT

The figures vary, and it is difficult to give an average, but, taking the output of coal per person employed in the mines in Glamorgan in 1930, the tonnage was 260, and the average annual cash earnings in that district in that year was £117.

Following is the reply:

Year. Output of coal per person employed at Mines in Glamorgan. Average Annual Cash Earnings of Coal Miners in South Wales and Monmouthshire.
Tons. £
1920 … … 168 252
1922 … … 203 127
1923 … … 212 136
1924 … … 204 139
1925 … … 208 139
1927 … … 243 124
1928 … … 258 126
1929 … … 271 129
1930 … … 260 117
1931 … … Not yet available.

NOTE.—The particulars of earnings for the years 1927–30 relate to the years ended 31st January, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931. The years 1921 and 1926 have been omitted as they were affected by prolonged national disputes.

4. Sir W. JENKINS

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of collieries closed down in Glamorgan from 1920 to the last available date in 1931, giving each year separately; the number of men affected; and the number of men employed each year from 1920 to 1931?

Mr. FOOT

As the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Major BEAUMONT THOMAS

Has not the deplorable situation in the coal industry in South Wales been caused by the excessive dumping of steel?

Following is the reply:

The information, so far as it is available, is as follows:
Year Pits in Glamorgan closed and not re-opened. Average number of persons employed at coal mines in Glamorgan.
Number. Number of Wage-earners employed at date of closing. Wage-earners. Clerks and Salaried Persons.
1920 Not available 179,833
1921 153,535
1922 161,182
1923 167,407
1924 41 8,894 160,895 1 2,882
1925 31 5,766 136,752 2,192
1926 7 487 Mch. 138,687 2,153
Dec. 98,781 2,121
1927 69 6,368 123,175 2,130
1928 36 4,975 107,989 1,803
1929 25 998 113,887 1,618
1930 34 3,457 108,327 1,711
1931 (to 26th Sept.) 73 17,251 96,241 (on 26th Sept.) Not yet available.