Mr. RUNCIMANasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the output of coal in Great Britain in each of the years ending the 31st December, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe output of coal in Great Britain in the calendar years 1913 to 1917 was as follows: 619W
Tons. 1913 287,347,952 1914 265,571,993 1915 253,121,524 1916 256,285,533 1917 248,403,594
§ Major WHELERasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the percentage of men released from the Army to work in the coal mines who are actually working as coal-getters at the coal face?
Sir A. STANLEYThere are no available figures on this point, but I have reason to believe that the percentage of coal-getters amongst the miners released since the 1st May, 1918, is a considerably lower figure than the normal percentage prevailing at the average colliery. This is in the main due to the fact that the bulk of miners so far released are mostly men of low medical category who, by reason of sickness or disablement by wounds, are unsuited to the more arduous work in the mines. Recently, however, men of higher categories have been made eligible for release, and this fact will tend to improve the percentage of men capable of working at the coal face.