§ 113. Mr. R. J. Taylorasked the Minister of Labour the estimated rate at which new labour can be absorbed in each coalfield together with the list of vacancies in each coalfield.
§ Sir W. MoncktonI am informed by the National Coal Board that the estimated average weekly number of men and boys required in each division for the rest of this year is as set out in Column 2 of the table below. Column 3 gives the number of current vacancies outstanding at 13th February, 1952 (not the total number to be filled during the year).
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National Coal Board Divisions * Estimated average weekly intake of men and boys between 1st March and 31st December 1952 Unfilled vacancies for men and boys at 13th February 1952 (1) (2) (3) Scotland 160 129 Northern (Northumberland and Cumberland) 80 62 Durham 150 63 North Eastern (Yorks.). 310 2,235 North Western (includes N. Wales). 180 520 East Midlands 130 764 West Midlands 250 2,307 South Western (S. Wales, Forest of Dean, Bristol and Somerset). 250 1,005 South Eastern (Kent). 10 3 TOTAL 1,520 7,088 * The figures in Column (2) include both those needed to replace wastage and those needed to fill vacancies in the places which are now short of men. The figures are expressed as a weekly rate of absorption and are subject to the following qualifications: First the level of wastage varies seasonally, as well as from week to week; second, the rate at which additional manpower (as opposed to manpower needed to replace wastage) can be absorbed varies between coalfields and parts of coalfields, and is subject to review as and when opportunity occurs to increase output by further increasing the intake of labour.
116. Mr. Schofieldasked the Minister of Labour what is the present rate of recruitment of British labour for the mines.
§ Sir W. MoncktonDuring the ten weeks ending 8th March, 1952, 20,860 British workers entered coalmining and the net increase in the number of wage-earners on colliery books, after allowing for wastage, was 11,600, including some 500 Italians.
§ 118. Mr. T. Brownasked the Minister of Labour how many Italians have been recruited for the mines.
§ Sir W. MoncktonSince May, 1951, when the official scheme started, 2,173 Italians recruited for underground coal-mining with the National Coal Board have arrived in this country.
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§ 121. Mr. William Palingasked the Minister of Labour what is the total cost, per head, of the recruitment of Italian labour for the mining industry.
§ Sir W. MoncktonThe average cost, which is borne on the Vote of my Department, of bringing Italian workers to this country for coalmining employment is £9 10s. per head. Other expenses connected with their recruitment are borne by the Italian Government and the National Coal Board.