§ 10. Mr. WHYTEasked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal pits shut down during the last 12 months and the number of miners thereby thrown out of employment?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)During the 12 months ended 30th April, 1933, 237 pits in Great Britain, employing 23,000 wage-earners, have been closed and not reopened. Of these 117 were small pits employing 10 men each or less and in the aggregate only 466 men.
§ Mr. WHYTEWill the Government consider introducing legislation abolishing the quota system, thereby stimulating British coal exports and giving more, employment to our miners?
§ Mr. BROWNThe supplementary question does not really arise out of the answer. The hon. Member seems to assume that these pits have closed down for that reason. The assumption is quite unfounded.
§ Mr. TOM SMITHIs it, not a fact that bad trade is the main cause of these pits being closed?