§ Colonel Clarkeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what has been the comparative rate of absenteeism, both avoidable and unavoidable, in the Cannock Chase coalfield expressed as a percentage for the three months preceding the date at which the responsibility for dealing with absentees was taken out of the hands of investigation officers and since that date;
(2) what has been the comparative rate of absenteeism, both avoidable and unavoidable, in the principal coal districts expressed as a percentage for the three months preceding the date at which the responsibility for dealing with absentees was taken out of the hands of investigation officers and since that date.
§ Mr. ShinwellFollowing are the figures, including those for Cannock Chase:
District. 13 weeks ended 1st Sept., 1945. 10 weeks ended 10th Nov. 1945. per cent. per cent. Northumberland 12.36 13.11 Cumberland 15.15 15.17 Durham 13.24 13.82 South Yorkshire 19.71 20.82 West Yorkshire 17.25 18.94 North Derbyshire 16.81 18.72 Nottinghamshire 20.43 21.86 South Derbyshire 10.60 13.22 Leicestershire 15.23 17.3I Lancashire and Cheshire 18.00 19.70 North Wales 14.75 15.78 North Staffordshire 22.42 23.22 Cannock Chase 19.75 21.10 South Staffordshire and Worcs. 16.88 19.10 Shropshire 15.85 18.24 Warwickshire 18.43 20.72 South Wales and Mon 14.77 15.54 Sorest of Dean 15.75 16.90 Fristol 13.60 12.88 Bomerset 14.31 15.56 Kent 22.72 24.88 Fife and Clackmannan 11.32 11.74 The Lothians 11.97 12.12 Lanarkshire 12.35 12.82 Ayr and Dumfries 13.47 14.05 Great Britain 16.14 17.22