§ Captain Marplesasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what reduction or increase, expressed as a percentage, in absenteeism in the mines has followed the cessation of prosecutions.
§ Mr. ShinwellI am not prepared to accept a suggestion that there is any short-term connection between the cessation of prosecutions and the trend of absenteeism in the coalmining industry. The long-term connection is another matter and I believe this will show favourable results.
§ Flight-Lieutenant Teelingasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can give the figures for absenteeism in the coalmines in August and September of 1944 and 1945, respectively; and whether he intends continuing to issue these figures in the future.
§ Mr. ShinwellAbsenteeism figures for August and September will be included in the figures for the third quarter of the year to be published shortly in the Board of Trade Journal. Starting with the October figures, I intend to publish output and other key statistics at monthly intervals.