HC Deb 12 November 1947 vol 444 cc89-90W
Sir T. Moore

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many miners were employed at the coal face in August, 1939, as compared with August, 1947; and what were the respective quantities of coal, in tons, produced during each of those months.

Mr. Gaitskell

There were on the average 290,000 face workers on colliery books during August, 1947. There are no direct statistics for August, 1939, but it has been estimated that on a comparable basis the number was probably 315,000 Output from the mines in August, 1939, and August, 1947, amounted to 15,063,000 and 12,574,000 ton respectively.