§ Mr. GEORGE BALFOURasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is now in a position to supplement the information given on the 3rd May as to the rates of wages that would be payable to miners under the Government's offer by saying how it is proposed that the federated area should be sub-divided; whether the result of any such sub-division would be a reduction of less than 3s. a shift in any district; and whether he will reprint the figures then given by him with any necessary amendments and showing the percentage increase in each case of the proposed rates over the pre-War rates?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo further meeting has taken place between the Mining 49W Association and the Miners' Federation since 5th May, and no agreement has been reached as to grouping districts in the Federated Area. I understand, however, that the owners on their part would be prepared to accept a grouping arrangement under which the whole of the coalfields of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Cannock Chase would be treated as one group. I cannot say exactly what would be the average reduction in wages per shift in these counties if this proposal were adopted. Its precise amount would depend on several questions which are still unsettled, e.g., the level of standard wages and the ratio of profits to wages. It is certain, however, that the reduction would be considerably less than 3s. per shift.