HL Deb 21 February 1973 vol 339 cc126-30

2.41 p.m.

LORD ORR-EWING

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the average absenteeism in the coal mines since the Wilberforce wages award of 24 per cent. a year ago; and how this compares with the figure of the previous year; and what have been the average earnings for the same periods.

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)

My Lords, as the weekly statistical statement of the Department of Trade and Industry shows, average absenteeism at coal mines in the 40 weeks to the end of December, 1972, was 16.72 per cent. compared with 17.87 per cent. a year earlier. Since December the average has risen slightly, but comparison with last year is not possible owing to the strike. I regret that figures of earnings over the two periods are not available, but for comparison, average earnings in one week in October, 1971, were £31.65, and in October, 1972, £38.21.

LORD ORR-EWING

My Lords, would my noble friend say whether, in view of the setting up of the Pay Board we shall get rather more up to date figures of earnings, since it is important that the country should be able to judge what is happening to earnings? At present these figures are collected once every six months, and the processing of them takes so long that they are not available to either House or to the public for some months after that time. Is it not desirable that we should have a rather quicker reaction to, and a greater knowledge of, what is happening?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I will certainly draw that point to the attention of my right honourable friend; but of course earnings are not likely to vary much once the pay settlement for the year, or whatever period is involved, has been arrived at.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, can the noble Lord say, in order to put the Question and Answer into perspective, what increase in productivity there has been in the coal industry?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, the increase in productivity is given in Table 11 of the National Coal Board Accounts for the year 1971–72, up to the end of 1972. In that year, of course, the output per man shift fell from 44.1 to 41.9, but it has risen again to 45.1.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the coal industry is the only industry that keeps figures of absenteeism and that these questions are always put with malice aforethought? Is it not a fact that since the disastrous strike of last year (which the coalminers did not want) output has increased more than in any other industry in this country?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am not quite certain what the noble Lord means by "output". I assume he is speaking of productivity. So far as the first part of the noble Lord's question is concerned, I do not think the noble Lord should accuse my noble friend of malice aforethought. I think I ought to explain that the phrase "absenteeism" covers both voluntary and involuntary absences, and about three-quarters of all absences are accounted for by sickness, industrial disease, injury or other authorised reasons.

LORD TAYLOR OF MANSFIELD

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware of the statement made yesterday in Cardiff by a member of the National Coal Board, to the effect that production this year has increased by 4 per cent. in the coal mines?

LORD ORR-EWING

My Lords, before my noble friend answers that question, would he not agree—in order to put the matter into perspective—that the immense capital investment in this industry has played a very considerable part in the increased productivity? It is not solely due to increased effort, but is also due to increased and better machinery. Is the noble Lord able to give us the figures of how much the country is investing each year in capital equipment for the coalmining industry? While we recognise that productivity has increased and are delighted that it has done so, would he bear in mind that that is partly through capital investment? Is it not true also that more than half the current cost of a ton of coal is made up of the labour content, and that we are in danger of pricing ourselves right out of the coal market if the price of coal continues to increase at the present rate?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, we are getting away from the original Question. On the matter of production: it is a fact that production in the last year was low because of the strike; productivity, on the other hand, as I have said, has increased. So far as capital expenditure is concerned, the average capital expenditure over the period 1968 to 1972 was £67 million and the estimated capital expenditure for this year is £80 million to £90 million.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that so far as the mining industry is concerned there are two important factors that govern a miner's life? The first is that immediately he enters into the cage he enters into danger; and secondly, a third of his life is spent in darkness. The sooner people begin to realise the importance of those two factors in a miner's life, the better. Further, is the noble Lord aware that owing to the closure of so many pits, particularly in our coalfield in Durham, men are now working at least six miles under the North Sea in order to produce the coal, travelling over 20 to 30 miles to other collieries that are on the coast and having to get up in the early hours of the morning, sometimes at 1 o'clock, in order to be on time to go down the pit at 3 o'clock at the particular colliery in which they are working?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that information. I am sure that we are all very well aware of the nature of the task of the coalminer at the coal face and we all appreciate it. But if I may say so, we are getting a long way from the original Question.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, as I believe it to be the fact That the morbidity rate in the coal-mining industry is one of the highest in industry, did I understand the noble Lord to say that these absenteeism figures include absenteeism for sickness of under three days' duration which, of course, might not be reported?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I need notice of that question, but I shall write to the noble Baroness.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, could the Minister tell his noble friend that instead of answering questions across the Floor, we are quite prepared to debate the situation when the Coal Industry Bill comes back to this House?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord will be prepared to debate it on that occasion.