§ 72. Mr. Brookeasked the Secretary for Mines whether, as part of his campaign to avert a coal shortage, a weekly target output figure is set for every colliery or group of collieries; whether he receives by Wednesday of each week returns of coal output from each colliery during the pre ceding week; and what arrangements exist, wherever output at any place is disappointing, for immediate investigation to ascertain precisely what difficulties, whether internal or external to the industry, are affecting output, and to get the right remedies applied?
§ Mr. GrenfellDistrict coal production committees in every coal-mining district have been allocated weekly target output figures for the district as a whole: in the great majority of districts weekly target figures have been allocated by the district committees to individual collieries or groups of collieries. By Thursday of each week the figures of output of the 1501 districts are summarised from the returns made by collieries. District and pit committees have been charged with the duty of reviewing these figures in the light of the target and taking such steps as are needed.
§ Mr. BrookeHow many reports has the hon. Gentleman received from these district committees as to the action they have taken during the past four weeks?
§ Mr. GrenfellWe have had reports from every district committee. I do not want to pretend that the arrangements are working perfectly, but there is increasing contact between the pit committees and the district committees and the district committees and the Coal Production Committee in my Department.
§ Mr. GallacherDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that the best method would be to set up a national board? Will he not force the coal industry to agree to this step?
§ Sir A. KnoxWill it be possible to indicate to this House weekly the result of these reports?
§ Mr. GrenfellI do not see any reason why the House should not be informed from time to time, but there might be risks in giving too much detail.,
§ Sir I. AlberyAre there any signs of an improvement in coal production?
§ Mr. GrenfellYes, Sir; production during the last month was substantially higher than that of the winter rate of production.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsDoes my hon. Friend know that a man worked 8| shifts recently and that his bonus was taken off because he was too tired to work 10 shifts?