§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade the output of coal per man in 1910, or other selected year of normal conditions, for Great Britain and the United States of America, and the similar output for 1921?
§ Lieut-Colonel LANE-FOXThe output of coal per person in the United Kingdom in 1910 was 257 tons: in 1921, when all pits were idle for three months, it was 144 tons. In the 12 months ended September. 1922, the latest period for which figures are available, it was 216 tons. In the United States the output of coal (including anthracite) was 618 tons per person in 1910, and 549 tons per person in 1921. The hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware that coal-mining is so much easier in the United States than in this country that it is impossible to draw any trustworthy inference from a comparison of the figures.