HC Deb 05 February 1913 vol 47 cc2206-7
74. Sir ARTHUR MARKHAM

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that the Amendment moved on the 24th November, 1911, by the then Solicitor-General for Scotland on the Report stage of the Coal Mines Bill, Clause 57, relating to the hours of winding enginemen, was an Amendment to an Amendment moved in Grand Committee carried against the Government by a majority of six, he is aware that the then Under-Secretary of the Home Department accepted the decision of the Grand Committee that no winding enginemen raising or lowering men should work more than eight hours per day; that the mover of the Amendment in Grand Committee agreed with the said Under-Secretary to allow his Amendment to be struck out on the Report stage, without discussion, on the undertaking that regulations would be made for the changing of the shifts at the weekends; and whether, seeing that the Mining Association of Great Britain have now used the careless drafting of the Government Amendment to force arbitration on the general principle of an eight hours working day for all winding enginemen, he will forthwith introduce a Bill to give effect to the decision of the Grand Committee and to the definite pledge of the Government?

Mr. McKENNA

My hon. Friend will recollect that the Amendment moved by him and passed in Grand Committee providing for an eight hours day for winding enginemen contained a special provision dealing with the changing of shifts at the week-end. It was recognised, however, by the Government and by a representative deputation of the winding enginemen, who saw the Parliamentary Under-Secretary on 7th November, 1911, that it would be necessary to make some further exceptions from the eight hours' principle in order to meet other special cases, such as mines worked by a single shift and mines where the work of the winding engine-man is considerably heavier during some shifts than during others. The Clause which was incorporated in the Bill at the Report stage therefore provided that the necessary exceptions should be dealt with by General Regulations. The Draft Regulations framed by the Home Office do not permit the normal day of a winding engineman to average more than eight hours, except in the case of single shift mines. The Mining Association, as they are entitled to do in the case of all General Regulations, objected to the Draft, Regulations and proposed Amendments, and the matter was referred to a Referee under Part I, (4) of the Second Schedule. Pending the publication of the Referee's finding, it would be improper for me to make any further statement at present.

Sir A. MARKHAM

Is the right hon. "Gentleman aware that the question decided by the Grand Committee was that no man should work more than eight hours a day? I want to know, when a pledge was given, why under these general regulations men are now called upon to work twelve hours a day when they are working in small mines? It is quite contrary to the interests of the Committee.

Mr. McKENNA

As I have explained, it was agreed that exceptions should be made in particular cases.

Sir A. MARKHAM

Agreed by whom?

Mr. McKENNA

By the Committee.

Sir A. MARKHAM

The right hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. It was not agreed by the Committee. The question was decided otherwise.

Mr. W. E. HARVEY

Has any intimation been given by the Home Office to colliery proprietors that unless a pit turns out more than 400 tons it is not entitled to the benefits of the Act?

Mr. McKENNA

I must have notice of that question. I am not aware that any such arrangement has been made.