§ 9. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Power what estimate has been formed of future manpower requirements for the coal industry; what is the present rate of recruitment; and if he is satisfied that this accords with the long-term needs of the industry.
§ Mr. WoodThe National Coal Board's Revised Plan for Coal estimates that between 587,000 and 626,000 men will be needed in 1965, according to the demand for coal. The Board recruited 17,400 men during the first 24 weeks of this year. I have every hope that the Board's long-term manpower requirements will be met.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe Minister has referred to a recruitment of 17,000 men but has said nothing about the wastage, which, I understand, is running at between 60,000 and 70,000 a year. Is it not a fact that the chairmen of the area boards are becoming very anxious about the manpower position?
§ Mr. WoodThe present wastage is, indeed, as the right hon. Gentleman says, a most serious factor to take into account, but against that is the fact that a number of those who have left the industry have been men over 65 years of age. That, therefore, will not recur. Against it, also, is the fact that the figure of recruiting I mentioned is a great deal higher than it was last year. The Board always intended that the rundown in manpower should not be spread evenly over the years 1960–65 but that a large part of it should take place in the first year or so.