HC Deb 09 June 1942 vol 380 cc944-5W
Mr. Liddall

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any estimate of how much the output of coal would have been increased in the year ended 31st March, 1942, as compared with the year ended 31st March, 1939, if the absenteeism in the year ended 31st March, 1942 had been 6.43 per cent. instead of 9.46 per cent.?

Mr. Dalton

It is not possible to give the information asked for by my hon. Friend with any exactitude because it is impossible to say how far the increased number of shifts would cause the output per shift to fall. On the doubtful assumption that output per shift was not affected by the increased number of shifts, it is estimated that, if the absenteeism percentage in the coal-mining industry in the year ended 31st March, 1942, had been 6.43 per cent. of possible shifts instead of 9.46 per cent., the output of the industry would have been between 5,000,000 and 7,000,000 tons greater. I should point out, however, that in referring to absenteeism only, he is ignoring the great increase in the number of shifts actually worked per man per week since 1938.

Mr. Liddall

asked the President of the Board of Trade the output per shift in 1938 and 1941, respectively, of all persons employed underground in collieries, and the output per shift for all persons employed in and about collieries; and also the total number of man shifts worked in 1938 and 1941, respectively?

Mr. Dalton

The output per man-shift of all persons employed underground in collieries was 1,495 tons in 1938 and 1,438 tons in 1941. The output per manshift for all persons employed in and about collieries was 1,148 tons in 1938 and 1,076 tons in 1941. My hon. Friend will realise that one important cause of the decline in output per man-shift is the loss of productive workers from the coalface, and the increased proportion of total shifts which are worked on unproductive work away from the face. It would not be in the public interest to give the total number of man-shifts worked, since this, combined with the information I have just given, would disclose the total national output.