HC Deb 23 April 1926 vol 194 cc1537-8W
Mr. S. ROBERTS

asked the Secretary for Mines what percentages of tonnage were produced at a loss and a profit, respectively, apart from subsidy, in each of the six principal coal-mining

Wages Level. Percentage above Basis. Percentage of Tonnage raised at Undertakings showing Percentage above Basis. Percentage of Tonnage raised at Undertakings showing Percentage above Basis. Percentage of Tonnage raised at Undertakings showing
Credit Balances. Debit Balances. Credit Balances. Debit Balances. Credit Balances. Debit Balances.
Scotland (7,932,000 tons). Northumberland (3,039,000 tons). Durham (7,570,000 tons).
% % % % % % % % %
Standard + 33⅓ % … 133.33 12 88 100.00 — 100 110.00 3 97
Standard + 25 % … 118.75 16 84 87.50 1 99 96.88 6 94
Standard + 20 % … 110.00 28 72 80.00 1 99 89.00 10 90
Standard + 15 % … 101.25 38 62 72.50 4 96 81.13 10 90
Standard + 10 % … 92.50 58 42 65.00 7 93 73.25 21 79
Standard +5% … 83.75 63 37 57.50 28 72 65.38 40 60
Standard … 75.00 91 9 50.00 46 54 57.50 60 40
South Wales and Monmonth (9,997,000 tons). Eastern District (20,900,000 tons). Lancashire, Cheshire and North Staffs (5,415,000 tons).
Standard + 33 ⅓ % … 42.22 10 90 46.67 53 47 46.67 29 71
Standard + 25 % … 33.33 19 81 37.50 70 30 37.50 38 62
Standard + 20 % … 28.00 21 79 32.00 75 25 32 00 56 44
Standard + 15 % … 22.67 23 77 26.50 83 17 26.50 70 30
Standard + 10 % … 17.33 25 75 21.00 90 10 21.00 75 25
Standard + 5 % … 12.00 41 59 15.50 93 7 15.50 90 10
Standard … 6.67 47 53 10.00 96 4 10.00 92 8

NOTES:—(a) The figures are based on two assumptions—

(1) That Subsistence Allowances are reduced in the same proportion as wages at basis and percentage.

(2) That price, output and the volume of employment are not affected by the reduction of costs.

(b) The terms "Credit Balances" and "Debit Balances" refer to the credit and debit balances respectively as determined for the purposes of the Wages Ascertainments. In arriving at these, account is not taken of certain expenses, estimated by the Mining Association at about 3d. per ton, which are not treated as costs of production, for the purposes of the Ascertainments.

(c) The figures in brackets after the names of the districts represent the tonnage disposab'e commercially for the quarter.

districts in the last quarter of 1925 at the minimum percentages payable under the 1924 wages agreement; and how these proportions would have been varied if lower minimum percentages had been payable?

Colonel LANE FOX:

The information is as follows: