§ Mr. PIKEasked the Secretary for Mines the number of shifts worked in British coal mines, including those of surface workers, for the year ended December, 1931; and what proportion of the total worked were between the hours of 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.?
§ Mr. ISAAC FOOTThe total number of shifts worked below and above ground at coal mines during 1931 was approximately 203,250,000. I regret that particulars of the shifts worked between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. are not available. I may add, however, that according to information supplied in 1925 by the Mining Association to the Royal Commission of that year, about one-fifth of the men then employed were employed on the afternoon shift.