§ Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average output per manshift over all persons employed in the mining industry, giving the latest figure before and after the present form of control was applied to the industry; the total number of persons employed and for each district separately?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIn the last four full weeks before the acceptance of the Government's White Paper by the House, output per man-shift over all persons employed was 1.048 tons; in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available, output per man-shift was 1.056 tons. Productivity in the latter period was affected by seasonal factors, especially sickness, and in the four most recent normal Weeks preceding the incidence of these factors, output per man-shift was 1.064 tons. The total numbers of persons employed in the industry last summer was about 708,000 and at the present time is about 714,000. It is not desirable to publish figures by districts, but if my hon. Friend desires I am prepared to let him have these in confidence.