Lady Grantasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what is the output in tons per man employed in the licensed mines compared to the output in tons per man under the National Coal Board;
(2) whether he will give the difference in output per man for the licensed mines as compared to those run under the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. GaitskellComparable figures for 1947 are not yet available, but in 1946 O.M.S. (overall) (excluding mines at which minerals other than coal were also mined) amounted to 0.99 tons at the pits now operated under licence as compared with 1.03 tons at the pits now operated by the National Coal Board. These figures underestimate the superior productivity of the latter mines, for the figure of 0.99 tons for the mines now operated under licence is inflated by reason of the fact (1) that it is based upon the number of persons employed and thus ignores working proprietors (a relatively important element at these pits) and (2) that many Of these pits possess no facilities for screening and washing, their output being either sold as raised or screened and washed at neighbouring pits.