§ 25. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines the total amount paid in wages in the mining industry for each of the last six years, the average earnings per annum per person employed, and the separate figures for South and West Yorkshire, respectively?
§ Mr. E. BROWNAs the reply involves a statistical statement, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFICIAL REPORT.
Mr. WESTIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, although wages have declined in the last six years and output has largely increased, the price of coal has not altered?
§ Mr. BROWNI am not aware of anything of the Kind. The total wages were higher in 1934, at £88,000,000, than in any year since 1931; and the average earnings, at £116 per annum, are higher than any year since 1929.
§ Mr. BROWNIt was £105 million. In 1931 it was £93 million; in 1932, £87 million; in 1933, £84 million; and in 1934, £88 million.
§ Mr. DAVID GRENFELLWill the hon. Gentleman inform the House of the figure by which the aggregate earnings have declined in the same period?
§ Mr. MAINWARINGWith reference to one of the hon. Gentleman's earlier replies, in which he said the average earnings in 1934 were higher than those of 1929, is that not contradicted by the fact that some of the men—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question only asks for some figures.
§ Following is the statement:
| Year. | Estimated Total Wages Bill (excluding the value of allowances in kind). | Average Earnings per annum per person employed (excluding the value of allowances in kind). |
| Great Britain. | ||
| Million £ | £ | |
| 1929 | 110 | 118 |
| 1930 | 105 | 114 |
| 1931 | 93 | 112 |
| 1932 | 87 | 109 |
| 1933 | 84 | 110 |
| 1934 | 88 | 116 |
| (provisional) | ||
| Yorkshire.* | ||
| Thousand £ | £ | |
| 1929 | 20,068 | 119 |
| 1930 | 19,165 | 115 |
| 1931 | 17,374 | 109 |
| 1932 | 16,042 | 107 |
| 1933 | 14,984 | 109 |
| 1934 | 15,734 | 114 |
| (provisional) | ||
| * Separate figures for South and West Yorkshire are not available. |