§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister for Energy what, in percentage terms, are the levels of productivity in the coal mines of Great Britain, France, West Germany and the United States of America.
§ Mr. EmeryFigures on average output per manshift at the coal face in National Coal Board mines are published monthly inTrade and Industry. The latest information is given in Table 6 on page 145 of the issue dated 24th January. Figures of average output per manshift underground for France and the Federal Republic of Germany as well as for the United Kingdom are published in "Energy Statistics 1973" Nos. 1–2, published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities, but the method of compilation of the figures differs between countries and a percentage comparison of the relative levels of productivity would be misleading. Corresponding figures for the United States of America are not readily available.