HC Deb 24 May 1933 vol 278 cc1089-90
26. Mr. TOM SMITH

asked the Secretary for Mines how many mines were closed and not reopened from 1st January, 1927, to the end of December, 1930, and the number of wage-earners affected?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)

During the period 1st January, 1927, to 31st December, 1930, 1,279 pits in Great Britain, employing 113,000 wage-earners, were closed and not reopened. Of these, 649 were small pits employing 10 men each or less and in the aggregate only 2,837 men.

Mr. SMITH

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether any of the colliery owners concerned blamed the quota system, which was in operation in some districts on a voluntary basis, for the closing of these pits?

Mr. BROWN

No, Sir.