HC Deb 19 March 1935 vol 299 cc976-7
1. Mr. MAINWARING

asked the Secretary for Mines in how many of the coal-mining districts of the United Kingdom has the standard rate of wages and/or the minimum percentage rate payable thereon varied since 1929; and will he indicate the amount of the variation in each case?

Mr. E. BROWN

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

Following is the reply:

I am not clear what the hon. Member means by "standard." If he refers to basis rates, in which changes are frequently negotiated at individual collieries without affecting the district as a whole, no detailed information is available.

With regard to the minimum percentage additions to basis rates, the following statement shows the changes which have occurred since 1929, most of which took place in 1931 as a consequence of the reduction of working hours in 1930:

District. Month of change. Nature of change in minimum percentage.
1930.
South Derby December … Reduced from 35 to 27.*
Bristol (Coalpit Heath) January … For pieceworkers, reduced from 33⅓ to 25, and for others from 35⅓ to 27
1931.
Cumberland August … Reduced from 30 to 22½.
South Derby (except enginemen, firemen and mechanics). January … Increased from 27 to 35.*
April … Reduced from 35 to 30.*
May … Reduced from 30 to 29.*
North Staffordshire April … Reduced from 35 to 32.*
Cannock Chase April … Reduced from 42 to 40.*
South Staffordshire April … Reduced from 40 to 38.*
Leicester April … Reduced from 40 to 32.*
East Bristol April … For pieceworkers reduced from 22 to 15 and for others from 24 to 17.
South Wales and Monmouth March … Reduced from 28 to 20.
Scotland August … Reduced from 110 to 100.
1932.
North Staffordshire January … Increased from 32 to 35.*
1934.
South Wales and Monmouth October … Increased from 20 to 22½.
1935.
North Staffordshire January … Increased from 35 to 37.*
* Subject to certain percentage additions in the case of pieceworkers.