HC Deb 09 February 1943 vol 386 cc1192-3W
Sir R. Gower

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of mines at work in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Staffordshire and Warwickshire, respectively; the number using ponies in each of these areas; the percentage of the output in each case carried by conveyors in 1941 and 1942; and the number of mines using power loaders?

Major Lloyd George

Information relating to the number of mines at work, the number using pit ponies, and the percentage of output carried by conveyors, is not yet available in respect of last year. The figures relating to the year 1941 are as follow:

Area. Number of Mines at Work. Number of Mines using Ponies. Percentage of District Output carried by Conveyors.
South Yorkshire 113 59 74.81
West Yorkshire 109 40 49.34
North Derbyshire 90 51 87.54
North Staffordshire 53 4 92.26
Warwickshire 20 5 71.01
The number of mines where power loaders are in operation at the present time in each of the areas named are South Yorkshire, 3; West Yorkshire, 1; North Derbyshire, 3; North Staffordshire, 2; and Warwickshire, nil.

Sir R. Gower

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of mines in the various divisions that are using British or American power loaders; and what proportion of the respective outputs is dealt with by them?

Major Lloyd George

The number of mines in the various regions using power loaders are as follow:

Scotland 3
Northern "A."—(Northumberland and Cumberland) —
Northern "B"—(Durham) 1
North Western.—(Lancashire, Cheshire and N. Wales) 1
North Eastern.—(South and West Yorkshire) 4
North Midlands.—(N. and S. Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire) 6
Midlands.—(N. and S. Staffs., Warwick, Cannock Chase and Shropshire) 3
Wales.—(South Wales, Forest of Dean, Somerset and Bristol) —
Kent —
18

The figures given cover loaders for which returns have been received showing that they are in actual operation. Information as to the proportion of the respective outputs dealt with by these loaders is not yet available. There are no official returns for the year 1942 and the majority of the above loaders are still in the experimental stage.