§ Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of shifts lost for which the guaranteed wage has been paid since the new scheme of control came into operation and the estimated loss of output in the British coalfields, giving figures for each district; and what steps are being taken to ascertain the causes of these lost 1645W shifts with the view of reducing them, or finding a remedy?
§ Mr. T. SmithI append figures showing for each mining district the number of shifts lost in July and August, for which guaranteed wage was paid, and the tonnage of coal which might have been produced if those shifts had been worked. The totals for Great Britain were 242,849 shifts and 266,297 tons of coal. The officers of the Regional Coal Organisation are giving special attention to collieries, the working and record of which appears to be unsatisfactory.
Statement showing the number of shifts lost for which payments to make up the guarantee of wages was made during the months of July and August, 1942.
District. Number of Shifts Lost. Tonnage Lost. Scotland 46,751 48,621 Northumberland 13,407 13,139 Durham 18,656 17,350 South Wales 25,968 22,592 South Yorkshire 54,596 64,969 West Yorkshire 19,617 19,617 Nottingham 15,068 22,903 Derbyshire (excl. S. Derby). 20,261 28,163 South Derbyshire 983 1,494 Cannock Chase 2,395 2,275 Leicester 608 979 Warwick 3,187 4,079 Lancashire and Cheshire 8,475 7,543 North Staffordshire 3,885 4,196 Cumberland 1,819 1,346 North Wales 4,253 4,168 South Staffordshire 262 265 Shropshire 410 480 Forest of Dean 1,389 1,250 Bristol — — Somerset — — Kent 859 868 GREAT BRITAIN 242,849 266,297