HC Deb 08 February 1944 vol 396 cc1636-7W
Mr. B. Taylor

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of men released from the Forces for work underground who have not been employed owing to being rejected by the colliery doctor.

Major Lloyd George

Forty-four of the 2,523 men released between 17th November, 1943, and 1st February, 1944, have been recalled to the Army following reports from collieries that they were unfit for underground work.

(a) Coal Output and Employment.
Period. Saleable Output. Average number of wage-earners on colliery books.
Tons.
Jan.-June, 1941 … … 101,314,200 692,900
July-Dec., 1941 … … 105,030,100 702,300
Jan.-June, 1942 … … 100,800,200 707,100
July-Dec., 1942 … … 102,833,200 710,900
Jan.-June, 1943 … … 99,151,300* 710,300
July-Dec., 1943 … … 96,337,300* 702,700
* Provisional.
(b) Wages.
Information as to wages paid in respect of the whole of the coal mining industry is not available. Returns made in connection with the wages ascertainment relating to undertakings accounting for between 96 and 97 per cent. of the output of the industry show the following results:—
Period. Wages Bill.† Saleable output at colliery undertakings covered by Return. Average number of wage-earners employed at colliery undertakings covered by Return.
Million £. Thousand Tons.
Jan.-June, 1941 … 67.1 98,029 656,900
July-Dec., 1941 … 76.0 101,495 667,200
Jan.-June, 1942 … 77.6 97,847 670,900
July-Dec., 1942 … 91.4 99,288 676,300
Jan.-June, 1943 … 90.4 95,839 675,900
July-Dec., 1943 … Not yet available.
† Including flat rate advances, war additions, subsistence allowances, attendance bonus (sinc June, 1941) guaranteed wage (since June, 1941), Greene Award (June, 1942), output bonus (Sept. 1942) and the estimated value of allowances in kind.

Major Lloyd

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied with the present output in the Scottish mines and with the coal supply position generally in Scotland.

Major Lloyd George

No, Sir, I am dissatisfied with the present output of coal in Scotland, but every effort is being made to secure an increase. The supply position generally is one of acute difficulty, and not less so in Scotland than elsewhere. Every effort is being made to secure equitable distribution, and I look