§ MR. MACDONALDasked Mr. Attorney General, If his attention has been directed to the recent lock-out in South Wales, which lasted for over twelve weeks; whether he is aware that such lock-out was organized, maintained, and carried on by a combination known as the South Wales Mine Owners' Association, or by some such name, which for the most part holds private meetings in Cardiff; whether this combination is an illegal combination; and, whether, in the event of his considering it an illegal combination, the Government will direct a prosecution or inflict the penal consequences which follow upon illegal combinations?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALIn answer, Sir, to the first and second parts of the Question of the hon. Member for Stafford, I have to state that, to the extent of the information which I have derived from reading the public journals, my attention has been directed to the recent lock-out in South Wales; but I am not aware that such lock-out was organized, maintained, and carried on by a combination known as the South Wales Mine Owners' Association, or by some such name, which for the most part holds private meetings in Cardiff. Under these circumstances, it becomes unnecessary for me to answer the third and fourth parts of the same Question 391 of the hon. Member, as they are based upon an assumed state of facts, of the existence of which I am ignorant.