§ 61. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether absenteeism in the mines is more noticeable on any one day of the week than on any other; and to what extent the operation of Pay as you earn is a factor in producing it.
Major Lloyd GeorgeOwing to the strain on colliery clerical staffs in furnishing such information, I have not attempted to collect any statistics later than those relating to December, 1943, and January, 1944.Those figures are included in Table 8 of the Statistical Digest (Cmd. 6538), and show that for underground workers the rate of voluntary absenteeism is much heavier on Mondays (including the Sunday night shift) and on Saturdays. I have no statistical information about the effect of the Pay as you earn system, but I am aware of the view that the introduction of this system has been a contributory factor in the recent increase in voluntary absenteeism.
§ Mr. James GriffithsIs it a fact that the first and last days of the week are those upon which there is much absenteeism?