§ Mr. J. D. Williamsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many colliery undertakings employing 30 men or under are now in production; what is the total number of men employed; and what was the output in 1947.
§ Mr. GaitskellExcluding approximately 140 small mines where the production of coal is incidental to the getting of other minerals, there were 344 coal mines employing less than 30 wage-earners on 21st February, 1948. The total number of wage-earners employed at these mines was 4,300, and the total tonnage of saleable coal produced by them in 1947 was 1,060,000 tons.