§ 51. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of miners employed and the average wages earned in the collieries of West Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. John DaviesThe numbers of miners employed at the end of 1970 were West Germany, 189,400; Belgium, 33,900; France, 94,500; and Netherlands, 11,600 (Energy Statistics of the European Community).
242WAverage wages for these miners are not available, but the gross hourly earnings for those employed in the "extraction and preparation of solid fuels" in October, 1969, were West Germany, 70 new pence; Belgium, 58 new pence; France, 41 new pence; and Netherlands, 62 new pence, calculated at the then prevailing exchange rates (Basic Statistics of the Community).