HC Deb 08 March 1937 vol 321 cc807-8W
Mr. Liddell

asked the Minister of Labour the number of strikes in the South Wales and Monmouth coalfields between the years 1926 to 1936, inclusive, as compared with the number of strikes in the same industry in the coalfields of England and Scotland?

Mr. E. Brown,

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th February, 1937, col. 2221, Vol. 320), supplied the following statement:

The following table shows the numbers of stoppages of work, owing to industrial disputes, recorded by my Department as having occurred at coal mines (a) in South Wales and Monmouthshire, (b) in other districts of England and Wales, and (c) in Scotland, during the period 1927 to 1936, and the estimated aggregate number of man-days lost in these stoppages. Corresponding figures, analysed by districts, are not available for 1926.

Area. Number of stoppages reported.* Estimated number of working days lost in those stoppages.
South Wales and Monmouthshire. 464 3,560,000
Rest of England and Wales. 549 3,480,000
Scotland 497 1,420,000
* Of the total number of stoppages recorded, the great majority affected only individual collieries.

Mr. C. S. Taylor

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the number of working days lost due to strikes in the South Wales and Monmouth area, as compared with the other English coalfields, during the years 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1936?

Mr. E. Brown

The following table shows the approximate number of working days recorded by my Department as lost through industrial disputes occurring in the coal mining industry in these areas in each of the years specified:

Year. South Wales and Monmouthshire. Rest of England and Wales.
1930 74,000 102,000
1931 2,133,000 502,000
1932 35,000 158,000
1933 140,000 234,000
1934 147,000 175,000
1935 618,000 618,000
1936 139,000 744,000

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