§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the percentage of the total output carried by mechanical conveyors at the coal face in coalfields with outputs of 30,000,000 tons and over, between 13,000,000 and 16,000,000 and between 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 tons, respectively; and whether he is satisfied with the progress of mechanised mining in securing increased outputs per manshift and per district?
Major Lloyd GeorgeAs regards the first part of the Question, I am not clear as to what coalfield districts my hon. Friend has in mind, but if he will communicate with me I shall be glad to supply him, in confidence, with as much information as is available. As regards the second part of the Question, great progress has been made by the coal industry in recent years in the development of coal cutting and conveying and the use672W of this type of machinery is being extended. Particular attention is being paid to the development of intensive mining methods and the use of power loading.