Unemployment.

Oral Answers to Questions — Coal Mining Industry. – in the House of Commons am ar 7 Rhagfyr 1926.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Thomas Williams Mr Thomas Williams , Don Valley

36.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give an estimate of the number of mine workers who are likely to be thrown out of employment as a result of the application of The Coal Mines Act, 1926, under which 66 per cent. of the men have returned to work on an eight-hours day?

Photo of Mr George Lane-Fox Mr George Lane-Fox , Barkston Ash

No, Sir. The amount of employment will depend mainly upon the demand for coal, which I cannot attempt to prophesy.

Photo of Mr Thomas Williams Mr Thomas Williams , Don Valley

Does the right hon. Gentleman now reject the recommendation of the Royal Commission and the reference they made to possible unemployment as a result of the application of the Eight Hours Act?

Photo of Mr George Lane-Fox Mr George Lane-Fox , Barkston Ash

No, Sir, I do not reject any opinion of the Royal Commission on that point; it depends on the circumstances as they arise.

Photo of Mr Thomas Williams Mr Thomas Williams , Don Valley

Is the right hon. Gentleman willing to admit that there will be a large Volume of unemployment as a result of the men working an eight-hour day?

Photo of Mr George Lane-Fox Mr George Lane-Fox , Barkston Ash

What I am prepared to admit is that the men who have gone back to work are getting very much better wages than they would have got if they had continued to work a seven-hour day.

Photo of Mr Herbert Williams Mr Herbert Williams , Reading

Is it not the case that the Royal Commission's estimate as to the effect on unemployment was based on the assumption that no more coal would be sold.