§ Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the present shortage of coal, he is taking any steps to facilitate night-work in pits and washery plants which at present are handicapped by the black-out?
§ Mr. GrenfellI do not think that the difficulties presented by the black-out are responsible in any large degree for the local shortages of coal to which I assume the hon. Member refers. There is no reason to suppose that additional nightshift working is necessary, or economical, if the available labour is only sufficient for manning the pits effectively during708W the normal winding shifts. The extent to which surface operations are affected by the black-out will diminish as the days lengthen and I do not think it is necessary to adopt any special measures in these circumstances.