§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the President of the Board of Trade the increase in the wages of the various grades of miners in Scotland since the year 1880, both in percentages and money value?
Mr. BUXTONThe increase in the general rates of miners' wages since 1880 on the old standard of 1879 has been 62½ per cent. in West Scotland, 29 per cent. in the Lothians, and 42 per cent. in Fife and Clackmannan. The base rates for these three districts differed up to 1888, since which year all districts have increased their percentage above the new standard of 1888 by 81¼ per cent. I regret that there are no statistics enabling me to compare the actual earnings of miners in 1880 and 1913.