§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will provide a statement showing the length of the working-day for mine-workers, above and below ground, respectively, in all coal-producing countries?
§ Captain CrookshankSeparate particulars as regards underground and surface workers are not available. Information as to hours of work for underground workers is contained on pages 31 and 32 of the Blue-Grey Report entitled "Reduction of Hours of Work" (Vol. V, Coal Mines) published by the International Labour Office in 1935. I am sending
416W
Average Daily Earnings* at Coal Mines in the principal coal-producing countries. Country. Period. Currency. Amount. Below-ground. Above-ground Above- and below-ground. Great Britain July-Sept., 1936 Sterling. Not available 10s. 4½d. Germany: Ruhr October, 1936. Reichsmarks Not available 7.15 Aachen October, 1936. Reichsmarks 6.46 Upper Silesia October, 1936. Reichsmarks 5.71 Lower Silesia. October, 1936. Reichsmarks 5.60 Saxony October, 1936. Reichsmarks 6.20 Saar October, 1936. Reichsmarks 7.09 France April-June, 1936 Francs 36.54 28.11 33.59 Belgium Year. 1935 Francs 38.83 28.99 35.68 Netherlands October, 1936 Florins 5.02 3.80 4.56 Poland March, 1936 Zlotys 8.55 7.45 8.06 Czechoslovakia Year, 1934 Korunas 46.60 37.80 39.83 Russia Year, 1934 Roubles Not available 4.65 Bulgaria† July, 1935 Levas 68.62 64.38 67.94 Canada† Year, 1935 Dollars Not available 4.46 Japan March, 1935 Yen Not available Males I.756 Females.747 U.S.A.‡ Bituminous August, 1936 Cents Not available 81.0 Anthracite 83.9 * Including overtime and family, etc., allowances where it is usual to make such payments. † Including lignite mines. ‡ Average hourly earnings. a copy of this statement to the hon. Member. So far as I am aware, the only change that has taken place since the publication of the report is that in France where, by virtue of Article 2 of a Government Decree dated 25th September, 1936, the hours of work for underground workers were reduced to a maximum of 7 hours 45 minutes per day and 38 hours 40 minutes per week as from 1st November, 1936. The length of time spent in the mine is calculated from the time when the worker enters the cage in order to descend, up to the time when he has ascended; it includes a rest period of 25 minutes. I understand that the principle of a 7 ½-hour day will be introduced in Belgian coal mines as from 1st February next.
§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will provide a statement giving the average daily earnings of mineworkers, above and below ground, respectively, for each coal-producing country and for the latest available date?
§ Captain CrookshankThe most recent information available from official sources is contained in the following statement: