§ Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give for the December quarters of 1943 and 1942, respectively, and for the year 1943, the average number of shifts worked per wage earner per week in the coalmining industry.
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe average number of shifts worked per wage-earner on colliery books per week was 5.35 in the December quarter of 1942, 5.11 in the December quarter of 1943 and 5.12 in the year 1943. It should be remembered that these figures take account of time lost by wage-earners absent owing to accident, sickness, etc., for the whole of any complete week, while the phrase "wage-earners on colliery books" includes some 60,000 men not effectively employed owing to these causes.