§ 22. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what causes he attributes the decline in the production of coal in Great Britain during the first 10 weeks of 1955 as compared with the corresponding period in 1954.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydNearly half the decline in production from the deep mines is due to the different incidence of the New Year holidays, and the other main reason is that output per man has been slightly lower. Bad weather has affected attendance at the pits and seriously interfered with opencast production.
§ 23. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average cost of producing one ton of coal in Great Britain during the first 10 weeks of 1955; and how this compares with the cost for the corresponding period in 1954.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI regret that these figures are not yet available.
§ 24. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average number of persons employed, and the average weekly wage paid, to surface and underground workers, respectively, in the coal-mining industry in Great Britain during the first 10 weeks of 1955 and for the corresponding period in 1954.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydFive hundred and sixty thousand underground and 147,500 on the surface, compared with 558,800 and 149,700 in 1954. The wages figures are not yet available.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that these very disturbing figures about coal production, the falling off in supply and the diminishing quality of the coal, are having a serious effect on the cost of living, and are bad not only for industry but for all consumers? Is there no hope of any improvement in this respect?