§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government intends to drop the Coal Mines (Eight Hours) Bill; and, if not, will he issue a Memorandum explaining that it will not raise the price of coal, in view of the difficulties experienced by traders in contracting for future delivery.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe Government has no intention of dropping the Bill. As regards the second part of the Question, I must refer the hon. Member to my printed Answer given to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil on the 14th April.
§ MR. W. E. HARVEY (Derbyshire, N.E.)When will the Second Reading be taken?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI cannot say.
§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)Is it the fact that only 25 per cent. of the miners will be affected by this Bill, the remaining 75 per cent. having already got eight hours?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI do not agree with the proportions stated by my hon. friend.