HC Deb 06 February 1929 vol 224 cc1747-9
16. Viscount SANDON

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the inability of a colliery company in North Nottinghamshire, near Doncaster, and of the Nine Mile Point colliery, in Monmouthshire, and of two collieries near Wrexham, to obtain the miners they require either locally or elsewhere; how many vacancies in each of these instances exist; and what steps he will take as to transference of unemployed miners, if necessary from other areas, to meet this demand and ensure that such openings are not rejected by any who are suitable and are offered such posts?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

With regard to vacancies at collieries in the Wrexham area and at a colliery in North Notts, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies, of which I am sending him copies, given on 30th January to the hon. and gallant Member for South-port (Sir G. Dalrymple-White) and the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. R. Young) and on 4th February to the hon. Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain). The situation at the Nine Mile Point Colliery is the subject of two further questions for to-day, of which Private Notice has been given, and will be dealt with in reply to those questions.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

With regard to those that are not being dealt with by the private notice question, is it a fact that the reason why men cannot be obtained from these collieries is that the colliery owners refuse to negotiate with the men's leaders and will only take men who do not belong to the recognised union?

Mr. SPEAKER

The Minister said that these questions would be dealt with in reply to a Private Notice question.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

On a point of Order. I am asking the Minister in regard to the Doncaster case, and I was leaving the other two cases alone.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think it would be more convenient to deal with the whole thing at once

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

But how can the matter with regard to Doncaster be dealt with in the other two answers?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

If the hon. and gallant Member wishes, and if you will permit, Mr. Speaker, I think it will be well to deal with this, so as not to complicate the matter afterwards, and the answer is that, with regard to the one colliery at Wrexham, that certainly is not the case. We have found out that it was a matter of some of the lower grade workers, of whom it was difficult, as short time was being worked, to get a sufficient supply in the locality. I believe they have now been got, and I do not think the question of unions appears in it at all. I have not the information with regard to the point in the Nottinghamshire case either. All that happened there, as far as I am aware, was that the company was very particular as to the ability and skill of the workers whom it got. I can make inquiries as to whether the same sort of point came up, but I am not aware of it.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Then it is not a question of the unemployed miners being unwilling to-work?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

Not to my knowledge.

Major MacANDREW

Has my right hon. Friend got any information about the Blacksyke pit, near Kilmarnock, where there are a lot of unemployed miners, and they cannot get men to work?

Mr. SHINWELL

In the Wrexham case, is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the North Wales Miners' Association have been unable to come to an arrangement with the management of the colliery concerned in connection with wages?

Mr. SPEAKER

We have arranged to leave that question until the other answers are given.

Mr. SHINWELL

No, Mr. Speaker I understand that the Wrexham case is not to be dealt with later.

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

The two cases, Mr. Speaker, which were previously dealt with, and to which I referred, were the colliery at Wrexham and the colliery in Nottinghamshire described here as near Doncaster. The case which I asked the hon. Member to allow me to answer at the end was a Monmouthshire case. As regards the point raised by the hon. Member, I have no information to that effect, but, if he wishes to put down a question, doubtless I shall be able to answer it.

Mr. SHINWELL

If I send the right hon. Gentleman a letter from the North Wales Miners' Association on this point, will he consider it?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I will consider anything from the hon. Member.