§ Mr. E. J. Williamsasked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the average output per man-shift and the amount per ton of wages, profits and management expenses, respectively, for the South Wales coalfield from 1922 and each year to date?
§ Captain CrookshankFollowing is the information: 997W
South Wales and Monmouthshire. Per ton of coal disposable commercially. Costs. Year. (a) Output of Saleable Coal per Manshift worked. Wages. Royalties (including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the Proprietors). Stores and Timber. Other costs (including Management).(b) Total costs of production (after deducting the proceeds of miners' coal). Balance Credit(+) Debit(-) Cwts. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 1922 … 16.82 12 6 0 8¾ 3 1¾ 3 8½ 19 11 +0 5¾ 1923 … 16.40 13 3 0 8½ 2 10½ 3 0¾ 19 8½ +2 1¼ 1924 … 16.07 14 3 0 8¾ 2 9 3 2¼ 20 9 +0 5 1925 … 16.16 14 6½(c) 0 9 2 7 3 2¾ 20 11(c) -0 4½ 1927 … 19.52 11 2 0 9 2 4 2 8½ 16 9¾ -1 1½ 1928 … 20.23 10 2¼ 0 8½ 2 0¼ 2 7¾ 15 5 -1 4¼ 1929 …. 20.46 9 11¾ 0 8¼ 1 11¾ 2 3¾ 14 9¾ +0 1½ 1930 … 19.98 10 3 0 8¼ 2 0½ 2 6 15 4 +0 2 1931 … 19.40 9 11½ 0 8½ 2 0 2 8¼ 15 2½ +0 0 ½ 1932 … 19.36 10¼ 0 0 8¾ 1 11 3 0½ 15 6 ¼ +0 0½ 1933 … 19.51 9 10¼ 0 8¾ 1 9¾ 3 2 15 5 -0 1½ 1934 … 19.83 9 9¾ 0 8¾ 1 10¼ 2 10¼ 15 1½ -0 1¼ 1935 … 20.40 9 9½ 0 8½ 1 10¼ 2 11½ 15 2 -0 1 1936 … 20.82 10 0 0 8½ 1 10¾ 3 2¼ 15 7½ -0 0½ (a) The figures shown for the years 1927 to 1936 relate to the years ended January, 1928, to January, 1937. (b) Including salaries, insurances, repairs, office and general expenses, contributions to the Miners' Welfare Fund, remuneration of working proprietors, depreciation, etc., but not certain items such as interest on debentures or other loans, bank charges, amortisation and taxation which the Mining Association of Great Britain estimate to amount to 3d. per ton or more. (c) Including Subvention. Figures are not given for the year 1926 when there was a protracted dispute in the coal mining industry.
§ Mr. Wraggasked the Secretary for Mines whether, considering that the output per person employed in the mines of Great Britain has declined from an average of 323 tons in the years 1882 to 1886 to an average of 276 tons in the years 1932 to 1936, despite the use of machinery in mining during the last 20 years, he can hold out any hope that by means of reorganisation the present yearly output can be increased with the resultant advantages to consumers and miners?
§ Captain CrookshankI regret that it is not clear to me what my hon. Friend has in mind, but I must remind him that in making comparisons with an earlier period there are other factors besides the use of machinery which affect the rate of output, notably hours of work and regularity of employment.