§ 1. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many miners have been dismissed since the National Coal Board took over; and in which areas have dismissals chiefly taken place.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe total number of miners dismissed (including dismissals due to the closure of pits) during the three years 1947, 1948 and 1949 was about 49,000. The average rate of dismissals per year, has been about 2.3 per cent. of the wage-earners on the colliery books. Many of the men dismissed have, in fact, been re-engaged at other pits. The dismissals have happened in all the areas; the highest rates have been in Lanarkshire and in North and South Staffordshire.