§ Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average weekly drop in coal production since 1938; and are there any signs of any steady increase in production.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe average weekly output of saleable coal at coal mines in Great Britain since 1938 has been as follows:
Year. '000 Tons. 1938 … … … 4,353 1939 … … … 4,437 1940 … … … 4,290 1941 … … … 3,957 1942 … … … 3,905 1943 … … … 3,730 1944 … … … 3,521 1945 … … … 3,350 The decline in production has been checked—output in the weeks prior to the Easter holiday was as high as the weeks before Christmas. Over the coming year, I am confident that output per man will increase, but total output also depends on the labour force in the industry. Everything therefore depends on whether it will be possible to maintain the labour force at its present level