§ Sir W. Edgeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can now make any statement as to the output of coal since the recent wage settlement on a four years' basis.
Major Lloyd GeorgeAs I stated in a reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 9th May last, it is my view that the publication of figures of coal production covering short periods of time tends to be misleading. Moreover, the relatively short period since the signing of the National Wages Agreement on 20th April includes three weeks which were affected by recognised district holidays, and I suggest that my hon. Friend should await the publication of the quarterly figures next month. I am glad to be able to inform him, however, that making due allowance38W for the effects of holidays, coal output showed some improvement over the period, though this was largely due to the much smaller loss through disputes. Production is still, however, significantly below that for the corresponding period of 1943.