Employment Statistics

HC Deb 12 October 1943 vol 392 cc749-50W

Mr. Mainwaring

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will state, for the 12 months preceding and the 12 months following, the establishment of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, the total number of persons employed in coalmining in Great Britain, together with the output of coal, giving separate figures as to employment and output for opencast mining?

Major Lloyd George

The average number of wage-earners employed at coal mines in the year ended 6th June, 1942, was 703,700 and in the year ended 5th June, 1943, 710,700. The total output of saleable coal at coal mines during these periods was 205,650,800 tons and 203,257,800 tons, respectively. There was no appreciable production from opencast mining before June, 1942. In the year ended 6th June, 1943, a total of 2,553,600 tons was produced. Figures of employment in opencast mining for the whole of this period are not available. At the end of May, 1943, the total number employed on sites, excluding those engaged on the screening and transport of the coal was 2,771.

Mr. Tinker

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average number of shifts per week worked in the mines of Great Britain for the years 1937–1938 and the average number of shifts worked per week for the years 1941–1942?

Major Lloyd George

The average number of shifts worked in the coalmining industry per wage-earner per week in the years 1937, 1938, 1941 and 1942 was 5.18, 4.96, 5.37 and 5.33 respectively.

Sir A. Gridley

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of employees in coalmines to-day and a year ago, giving the face workers separately and also the average output per shift for the same periods?

Major Lloyd George

During the week ended 25th September, 1943, the total number of wage-earners on colliery books was 703,021, of which 285,644 were employed at the face. The output per shift overall was 1.033 tons and at the face, 2.816 tons. During the corresponding week a year ago, there were 711,561 wage-earners on colliery books, of which 279,255 were at the face. The output per shift overall was 1.056 tons and at the face 2.883 tons.