§ Major H. TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the fall in output per person employed underground in the South Wales coalfield in the years 1915, 1916, and 1917, respectively; and what was the average number of hours worked per week by men employed underground in the South Wales coalfield in the years 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917?
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Sir A. STANLEYIn 1913 the average output per person employed underground at collieries in the South Wales coalfield was 286 tons; in 1915 the output rose to 297 tons, but fell to 290 tons in 1916, and to 262 tons in 1917. The average number of hours worked per week at collieries in the South Wales coalfield was as follows: 1913, 47.36 hours; 1914, 44.88 hours; 1915, 46.32 hours; 1916, 46.48 hours; and, in 1917, 44.64 hours.
§ Major TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information which shows that the statement contained in the letter issued by the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal-owners' Association, to the effect that the wages of different classes of underground labour in the South Wales coalfield were between 24 and 170 per cent. higher than those ruling in July, 1914, was based upon the wages of one small class of the lowest-paid underground labour; and, if so, what class of underground labour was that statement based on?
Sir A. STANLEYAccording to a statement of wage rates issued by the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal-owners' Association on the 12th June, 1918 (which the Controller of Coal Mines has not had an opportunity of verifying), the weekly wage of the lamp-lockers (a numerically small class) in South Wales and Monmouthshire shows a maximum increase from 21s. 7d. in July, 1914, to 58s. 4d. in June, 1918 (after reckoning in the war bonus, the 1917 war wage, the value of the increase in the price of house coal, and certain other advantages accruing during that period). This increase is approximately 170 per cent. Having regard, however, to the fact that this class of colliery labour was amongst the lowest paid in July, 1914, and is numerically small, this percentage of increase cannot be regarded as typical of colliery labour. I also beg to refer the hon. and gallant Member to his question of the 8th July, in which the increase is stated to range from 74 to 170 per cent. Presumably in his question now under reply 74 should take the place of 24 per cent.