§ 12. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage the output of saleable deep-mined 8 coal in the United Kingdom in 1948 was of that in 1938.
§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Gaitskell)Eighty-seven per cent.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterCan the right hon. Gentleman say how those figures compare with the comparable figures for France and Czechoslovakia?
§ Mr. GaitskellThe French output in relation to pre-war is certainly higher than our own, but their labour force is some 20 per cent. above pre-war whereas ours is about 10 per cent. below.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterCan the right hon. Gentleman say, then, whether he accepts the attitude of the Minister of Labour last week, that there was no need to increase the labour force in the mines?
§ Mr. GaitskellI certainly would not agree that that correctly reflects my right hon. Friend's view in the matter. He pointed out that the Ministry of Labour were doing everything they could to increase the manpower in the pits.