§ 30. Mr. GORDON MACDONALDasked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of coal produced and conveyed by machinery in Great Britain in the first nine months of this year and in each of the previous four years, giving separate figures for Lancashire and Cheshire?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)As the reply involves a statistical table, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT such information as is available.
§ Mr. MACDONALDDo the figures indicate a progressive increase?
§ Mr. BROWNThere are 18 sets of figures, and I think the hon. Member had better do his own analysis.
§ Following is the information:
§ Mr. BROWNAs the hon. Member was informed in reply to a question on the 24th March, 1931, the only figures available on the subject are those obtained specially for the Coal Industry Commission which relate to October, 1924. The estimated number of persons then em- 907 ployed at the coal face in Great Britain was 482,000 or 51.3 per cent. of the total number employed below-ground. The corresponding figures for Lancashire and Cheshire were 42,000 and 49.9 per cent.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Member aware that all counties do issue with the balance of their monthly ascertainment the number of men employed at the coal face and the total number of persons employed at the colliery?
§ Mr. BROWNThere appears to be a misunderstanding. The only figures we have on the point put in the question were specifically got out after the most elaborate calculation.
§ 33. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines the total quantity of coal produced by machinery in Yorkshire during the 10 months ended 31st October, 1933; and the total quantity so produced in each of the past five years?
§ Mr. E. BROWNParticulars of the quantity of coal cut by machinery are only collected annually. The figures for Yorkshire for the last five years are as follow:
Tons. 1928 … … … 7,596,000 1929 … … … 8,372,000 1930 … … … 9,115,000 1931 … … … 9,718,000 1932 … … … 10,066,000