Manpower (Hansard, 27 November 1961)

§ 18. Mr. Swain
asked the Minister of Power what has been the recruitment of juveniles into the coal mining industry over the last 12 months, and what has been the total wastage of all ages from the industry during the same period.

§ Mr. George
In the 52 weeks ended 11th November, recruitment of juveniles totalled 13,000 and wastage of all ages was 76,200.

§ Mr. Swain
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his and his right hon. Friend's complacency at the Dispatch Box when dealing with matters pertaining to the mining industry almost equals the smugness and complacency of the Prime Minister on the other major affairs of State? Is he also aware that the inability of the mining industry to encourage juveniles and young men to volunteer for service is causing great concern to everybody in it, both in the trade unions and on the managerial 18 side? What is he or his right hon. Friend prepared to do to assist the industry in its recruitment campaign?

§ Mr. George
Far from our being complacent about the coal mining industry, the position in the industry is the cause of daily concern and consultation on our part. We are most anxious that the industry should go ahead vigorously, and everything towards that end is being done.

§ Mr. Swain
Then cancel the wage pause.

§ Mr. George
With regard to the recruitment of juveniles, the figures which I have given are higher than those for 1959 and 1960, though lower than those for the previous eight years. The number of men re-entering the industry has, however, shown a big increase, being higher than in any year since 1955, and total recruitment is better.

§ Mr. Emrys Hughes
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that last year I tried to do my very best to help the National Coal Board and the Ministry by going to Eton and delivering an earnest and eloquent plea to the students under the heading "Coal Mining as a Career"? I have had no results. Can the hon. Gentleman explain why?

§ Mr. George
Perhaps the hon. Gentleman's eloquence was not as successful as it normally is.

§ Mr. Rankin
Perhaps the career was not sufficiently attractive.

§ 20. Mr. Swain
asked the Minister of Power what information he has about the loss in production of coal from the East Midlands division of the National Coal Board owing to a shortage of manpower.

§ 21. Mr. D. Griffiths
asked the Minister of Power what information he has about the loss in production of coal from the North Eastern division of the National Coal Board owing to a shortage of manpower.

§ Mr. George
The National Coal Board advises me that it is difficult to assess the tonnage involved, but there is a shortage of several thousand men in each division.

§ Mr. Swain
Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the shortage of men in the East Midlands is attributable to the acute shortage of houses in the mining areas? What are he and the Government prepared to do to assist local authorities to overcome this great difficulty so that we in the East Midlands can encourage people from other parts of the country to come to the area and live there by building houses for them at the same time as we provide them with jobs?

§ Mr. George
The National Coal Board is anxious to increase production in these profitable coalfields. It is actively recruiting men, and it is encouraging the transference of men from declining coalfields. It is also negotiating with local authorities for the building of several thousand houses. As the hon. Gentleman is probably aware, the Board is paying special subsidies where local authorities have agreed to build such houses. In addition, it is itself building several thousand houses in these divisions through the Coal Industry Housing Association.

§ Mr. Griffiths
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that we have here two of the most prolific coalmining areas in the world, let alone in this country, which are suffering a loss of output through the acute shortage of manpower? Is he further aware that the inroads being made into stocks are creating a perilous position, and that if those inroads continue it will become more serious?

§ Mr. George
We are well aware of the shortage of manpower in these productive areas. As I have said, the Board is taking active steps to recruit men. It is worth noting, however, that the output for both divisions during recent weeks has been running above the level of a year ago.

§ 23. Mr. Stones
asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to recruit more men to the coalmining industry.

§ Mr. George
No, Sir. The Board is already making every effort to recruit the men it needs.

§ Mr. Stones
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the present drift of manpower from the industry and the difficulty of recruitment are generally recognised as 20 being due in no small measure to the deep feeling of insecurity among miners about the future of the industry, which has been brought about, in my opinion, by the failure of the Government to plan the nation's economy in such a manner as to safeguard the industry against unwarrantable imports of alternative fuels from foreign sources? If we are to attract additional men, is it not time the Government changed their policy from a free-for-all to the more sensible one of safeguarding the welfare and the economy of the nation, particularly with regard to our fuel requirements, which can be met adequately from our indigenous sources?

§ Mr. George
The men in the industry need have no fear about its future. For a year or two output has been less than consumption, and so it is at the moment. What the country needs is more coal from the industry, not less.

§ 24. Mr. Ainsley
asked the Minister of Power to what extent he is making a fresh reappraisal of the coalmining industry in relation to its output, manpower and economic production.

§ Mr. Wood
The National Coal Board and I have these matters under constant review, but I have nothing further to tell the House at present.

§ Mr. Ainsley
Is the Minister aware that the free-for-all policy now being pursued by the Government owing to back bench pressure is bringing chaos into the mining industry and undermining its morale? How can the chairman of the National Coal Board say that he is planning for 200 million tons of coal this year with declining manpower, and how can the Chancellor of the Exchequer control the national economy when he is subjected to pressure from outside the country?

§ Mr. Wood
The chairman of the National Coal Board realises that he will only attain his targets of output for next year and the years after with the fewer men he has in the mines by increasing output from each man. That is why he is pressing forward as quickly as possible with the mechanisation programme. I think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that recently it has been very successful.