§ 1. Mr. Dayasked the Secretary for Mines the number of pneumatic picks that were in use for getting coal in the mines of Great Britain for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, and the amount of coal produced by these picks, either in conjunction with coal-cutting machines or used independently during the same period; and the district using the greatest number of picks?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. DayIs it the case that the men who use these picks are receiving considerably less in wages than they did previously?
§ Captain CrookshankThat has nothing to do with this question.
§ Following is the reply:
§ During 1936, 6,464 pneumatic picks were used in getting 11,722,804 tons of coal at mines in Great Britain; 2,927,863 tons were got by 1,191 picks used in conjunction with coal-cutting machines and 8,794,941 tons by 5,273 picks used independently. The district using the greatest number of picks was Durham, with 3,256.