§ 6. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Labour how many underground workers were employed in Cornish tin mines during each of the last five years.
§ Mr. IsaacsAt July, 1948, the latest date for which figures are available, the estimated total number of employees in the tin-mining industry in Cornwall was 820. This figure includes all persons employed by tin-mining firms, and separate figures of underground workers are not available. Precisely comparable figures cannot be given for earlier years but such figures as are available show that there was a slight drop between 1946 and 1948.
§ Mr. HaymanCan my right hon. Friend say whether his Department is able, to satisfy the demand for underground workers in the tin mines and, if not, whether he thinks higher wages would be a sufficient inducement to attract young men into the industry?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am sure that higher wages would be an inducement to attract people anywhere, but I have no knowledge of any complaint from the area that they are unable to obtain labour.