§ Mr. Eadieasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what main industries in Great Britain have exceeded the rise in productivity by the mining industry during the last six years; and if he will list the details.
§ Mr. Harold LeverIt is not possible to produce figures for other industries comparable with the usual measure of coal mining productivity, output per manshift, which rose by an annual average of 4.5 per cent. between 1960 and 1966.
Broadly comparable figures for coal mining and for other industries can, however, be derived from the index of production and estimates of total employment. The table below shows the average rate of increase in productivity on this basis in coal mining and in those major industrial groups where the rise in productivity has been higher.
215W
Average annual increase in output per head, 1960–66 per cent. Chemicals and allied industries 5.0 Bricks, pottery, glass, etc. 3.6 Gas, electricity and water 3.2 Textiles 3.0 Engineering and electrical goods 2.8 Vehicles (including aircraft) 2.7 Coal mining 2.6 The figure for the increase in coal mining productivity is lower than the increase in output per manshift because: (a) it covers all employees in the industry not merely wage-earners on colliery books; (b) it is based on value rather than tonnage; and (c) it takes account of reductions in the working week.