§ 43. Mr. John Hallasked the Paymaster-General what was the total coal production, including opencast, and the output per man-shift in 1957.
§ Sir I. HorobinThe figures are 223.6 million tons and 1.23 tons, respectively.
§ Mr. HallWould not my hon. Friend agree that this rather disappointing increase, which has not varied very much in the last three or four years, is a reflection of the failure of the National Coal Board to do its job effectively, despite the increasing amount of capital being spent in the industry?
§ Sir I. HorobinI do not think that anybody, including the Coal Board, is satisfied with the progress in increasing production, but I do not think I can usefully say anything more in answer to a supplementary question.