§ 41. Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Power what are the current average weekly earnings of the employees of the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. FreesonI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 17th February, 1969.—[Vol. 778, c. 18.]
§ Mr. RidleyWould the hon. Gentleman accept that the very low relative level to which miners' wages have sunk may well be the reason for the drop in the ability of the Coal Board to hold its labour in 1224 the productive coalfields? Is he aware that the arguments put forward about morale might be stronger if the level of miners' wages was a little higher?
§ Mr. FreesonA number of factors are involved in the employment question in the better colliery areas other than the point which has been raised by the hon. Gentleman. In any case, I would not rely on him as a spokesman for the National Union of Mineworkers.